Shell-shock and other neuropsychiatric problems : Presented in five hundred and eighty-nine case histories from the war literature, 1914-1918

A comprehensive snapshot of early twentieth‑century neuropsychiatry, this volume gathers 589 case histories drawn from the medical literature of the First World War. The entries detail the bewildering array of nervous and psychological disturbances soldiers experienced—what was then called “shell‑shock”—including trembling, nightmares, anxiety attacks, and loss of speech. Each case is presented with concise observations, diagnostic notes, and the therapeutic approaches used at the time, offering a clear picture of how physicians first grappled with combat‑related mental trauma.

Beyond the battlefield, the collection serves as a practical guide for clinicians and military officers alike, illustrating how mental health problems were identified, recorded, and managed in both acute and convalescent settings. The systematic format, with boxed headings and brief summaries, makes it easy to compare patterns and outcomes across patients. Readers gain insight into the early foundations of modern trauma‑focused care, seeing how the war’s urgent needs spurred the development of neuropsychiatric practice.