Combat Exhaustion (War Office, 1943)

This is a training film for World War II military physicians. Early recognition and treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions in the combat zone, the need to understand the exhausted soldier, and treatment by narcosis therapy and chemical hypnosis are presented. In a neuropsychiatric hospital, the chief physician interviews a number of patients, one by one, and then explains their neuroses to the medical officers accompanying him. The three major sections of the facility are shown and explained: admission, treatment, and rehabilitation. Treatment may consist of sleep therapy, appetite stimulation by insulin, electro-shock therapy, exercise, and re-education. For combat zone exhaustion, recommended treatments include separation of exhausted from physically wounded soldiers, calming the hysterical patient, reassurance, food, rest, and tranquilizing agents. The prodromal signs of exhaustion are discussed - poor physical coordination, slowing of mental processes, excessive reaction to noise, inability to relax and rest, and outbursts of temper. Shots include: a "shell-shocked" soldier being seen in a combat-zone clearing station, an army physician lecturing to other physicians on combat exhaustion, and patients being treated at a large treatment facility.
Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: resource.nlm.nih.gov/9300805A
Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collectio...
#medicalhistory #militaryhistory #hypnosis #ptsd

[@paulgitaukinuthia3916]

The Doctor is highly empathetic and polite to his patients. This is rare.

[@KMx108]

Except when he laughed at that one guy who thought he might have TB.

[@muslimamerican4129]

@@KMx108laughing in response to a incorrect civilian self diagnosis as a doctor with decades of experience isn’t being rude lol keep in mind he’s a army doctor and he’s dealing with tough men and not children

[@proud2bpagan]

"If we were still calling it shell shock, the vets in Vietnam might've got the help they so desperately needed"~George Carlin

[@CliffRichardFan2001]

Poor guy. You can hear how much distress he’s in. My heart goes out to him.

[@AnonYmous-ry2jn]

So different from in “Patton”.

[@johnnydiamondsmusic1673]

I’ve seen a few of these now. These treatments obviously work. Why do they not treat modern soldiers with PTSD the same way today?

[@matthewholmes8638]

Funny they do none of this anymore. Hell you cant even get decent help from the Va.

[@winstonslone2797]

$400 bucks a month!! That's over 7 grand today

[@AnonYmous-ry2jn]

Did anybody ever fake it?

[@shadowwolf9503]

Of course

[@AnonYmous-ry2jn]

@@shadowwolf9503 is this real or acted? When I watched this a few months ago I thought I saw Gene Kelly in it; seemed really except for that.

[@shadowwolf9503]

@@AnonYmous-ry2jn Probably acting.

[@KMx108]

I could've help but wonder if that one guy who had "physical depression" actually had a B12 deficiency.

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😂😂😂😂

[@sidka84]

Real M.A.s.H 🙂

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