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How did doctors treat shell shock in ww1?
Shell shock victims found themselves at the mercy of the armed forces’ medical officers. The “lucky” ones were treated with a variety of “cures” including hypnosis, massage, rest and dietary treatments.
What is shell shock and how was it treated?
Electric Shock Treatment was very popular. This involved an electric current being applied to various body parts to cure the symptoms of Shellshock. For example, an electric current would be applied to the pharynx of a soldier suffering from mutism or to the spine of a man who had problems walking.
Did shell shock treatments work?
Hurst’s pioneering methods were both humane and sympathetic. It was a miracle that literally saved the lives of dozens of shattered men. At Seale Hayne the shell shocked soldiers were treated with humanity and dignity. It remains a living testament to the men who survived the horrors of the First World War.
What was the medical treatment like in ww1?
Primarily, transfusions were used to treat severe haemorrhage and shock, before an operation took place. However, transfusions could also aid with carbon monoxide poisoning and wound infection, and so were increasingly used during and after operations as well as before.
What were the symptoms of shell shock in ww1?
The term “shell shock” was coined by the soldiers themselves. Symptoms included fatigue, tremor, confusion, nightmares and impaired sight and hearing. It was often diagnosed when a soldier was unable to function and no obvious cause could be identified.
Is shell shock permanent?
Shell shock is a term originally coined in 1915 by Charles Myers to describe soldiers who were involuntarily shivering, crying, fearful, and had constant intrusions of memory. It is not a term used in psychiatric practice today but remains in everyday use.
What was shell shock caused by?
It was also known as “war neurosis”, “combat stress” and later Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At first shell shock was thought to be caused by soldiers being exposed to exploding shells but eventually doctors and nurses began to realise that the causes were deeper.
What causes shell shock in ww1?
Is shell shock the same as PTSD?
And they are different. They are the same because shell shock was an intellectual forerunner to PTSD. The difference, however, is that shell shock was specific to the experiences of combat whereas the concept of PTSD has developed to be more wide-ranging. DSM-IV lists 17 symptoms.
What is the treatment for shell shock?
Treatments for Shell shock (Combat stress reaction) Treatments for Shell shock (Combat stress reaction) include: Removal from battle environment, psychotropic medication, counseling, food and rest.
What was shell shock in World War 1?
Encyclopedia – Shell Shock. Shell Shock was a term used during the First World War to describe the psychological trauma suffered by men serving on the war’s key battlefronts – France, Flanders, along the Isonzo and in Gallipoli .
What is shell shock treatment?
Specifically, the treatment of shell shock includes the infliction of pain, in particular is the electric shock treatment. In this method, an electric current is being passed to different parts of the body in order to relieve the patient with the symptoms of shellshock.
It was also known as “war neurosis”, “combat stress” and later Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At first shell shock was thought to be caused by soldiers being exposed to exploding shells but eventually doctors and nurses began to realise that the causes were deeper.