[Wiplash injury and "railway spine"]

Although post-traumatic stress disorder was only recently admitted into the international classification systems, psychological reactions to traumatic incidents have been frequently described for more than 100 years. The article deals with the mental reactions to a trauma in different historical situations. Included are the "railway spine" injuries of the 19th century, victims of accidents where third party liability could be claimed, accident insurance, the psychological consequences of National Socialism and whiplash injury. The analysis suggests that different reactions don't describe an identical disorder. It seems that reactions to injuries are mainly influenced by the historical and social background and the fact of beeing insured.