Symonds on fear and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Military Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Sir Charles Symonds' WWII research highlighted fear's role in combat airmen's psychological breakdown, termed Lack of Moral Fibre.
• Symonds revisited earlier concepts of 'shell shock' from WWI, drawing on his extensive medical experience.
• Historical perspectives on combat-related psychological distress have evolved significantly over the past century.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the historical context of psychological trauma in military personnel.
• To analyze the evolution of diagnostic classifications for conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• To underscore the enduring relevance of early 20th-century observations on combat stress.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of neurological and psychiatric literature from WWI and WWII.
• Analysis of prominent neurologist Sir Charles Symonds' publications on combat airmen.
• Examination of diagnostic shifts in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Main Results:

• Symonds' work identified fear as a key factor in psychological breakdown among WWII airmen.
• The study connects Symonds' findings to WWI 'shell shock' concepts and phylogenetic theories.
• The DSM-5's reclassification of PTSD in 2013 aligns with historical observations predating its formal diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• The understanding of combat-related psychological stress has deep historical roots, emphasized by Symonds.
• Reclassifying Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) reflects a century-long recognition of its distinct nature.
• Early 20th-century insights into 'shell shock' remain pertinent to modern psychiatric understanding.