Pre-World War I As far back as 3,000 years ago Egyptian scholars wrote about the physical and psychological symptoms of experiencing battle. By 1678, Swiss military doctors identified symptoms such as depression, homesickness, insomnia, weakness, anxiety, loss of appetite, fever and heart palpitations an termed the condition nostalgia.

World War I The advancements in military technology during the first world war made the battlefields of Europe far more deadly and devastating. The term “shellshock” began to be used to describe the symptoms of PTSD. The term came from the idea that these symptoms were caused by physical injuries that led to brain damage, though by the end of the war doctors began to realize that the symptoms were caused by the emotional trauma and fear of the war experience. While large numbers of soldiers experienced these symptoms it was generally thought that it occurred in men who were simply “mentally weak”.

World War II Due to the belief in WWI that “mentally weak” men were susceptible to these symptoms military officials attempted to weed out men they believed were more likely to have a psychiatric breakdown through testing draftees before they saw combat. Terms like “combat neurosis”, “combat exhaustion” and eventually “battle fatigue” were not used to describe the condition.

Vietnam The conception that strong minded soldiers with no history of mental sickness were not susceptible to “battle fatigue” was still common during the Vietnam War. As the war continued once again, it became more and more evident that every soldier had his breaking point. Over 700,000 soldiers, about ¼ of all of those who served in Vietnam required psychological help for their symptoms. Easy access to drugs and alcohol in in Vietnam made substance abuse a more common way for soldiers to deal with their symptoms and created additional problems at home and in country. The research and treatment of returning soldiers that took place in the years after the Vietnam War eventually led to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome becoming officially recognized as a mental illness.

PTSD Today The official recognition of PTSD as a sickness that all soldiers are susceptible to as well as the added research and understanding on it that took place since the Vietnam War has made people more aware of the problem and has improved treatments for soldier returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years. These veterans have access to more programs and treatments to help them cope with PTSD than veterans from any previous war. Despite this, many of these soldiers are suffering from a variety of issues that come from their experiences at war. Difficulty adjusting to civilian life, drug addiction, unemployment and suicide are just a few of the problems affecting many veterans and their families.

Experiences Use the Chart below to list experiences that may contribute to PTSD