title: [The "war neurosis"-- an early model of a pluridimensional outlined trauma-theory in psychiatry].
abstract: The war neurosis, mainly observed during the first World War, caused a lively debate on its origin and etiology. In psychiatric history this debate is often portrayed in a somewhat simplifying manner. Namely Oppenheim was considered as the leading exponent of the organic etiology of traumatic neurosis, while others, with growing interest in psychodynamic theories, were thought to favor exclusively psychogenesis of this condition. However, only discussing matters in this way would be too simple. Rather, the controversy was much more differentiated and led to important insights: First, it turned out to be impossible to explain any psychopathological syndrome exclusively in terms of neuropathological, i. e. structural alterations, in particular, a syndrome presenting with a sudden onset of dissociative and conversion symptoms. Secondly, the psychiatric theory of hysteria of Charcot and Freud was developed and extended further. And, last, the etiology of war neurosis was recognized to be multifactorial. Thus, the discourse on this issue was not one-dimensional and favoring a single explanation for a complex disorder, but revealed "pluridimensional" features. Subsequently psychotherapy, for the first time, was widely introduced into clinical practice with a clear indication and well-defined methodological approach. In summary, war neuroses can be addressed as an early model of traumatic stress disorder, such as acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tölle
mesh_terms: D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000266:history*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000266:history*; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000266:history*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000266:history*; D047828:World War I