De traumatische neurose. Een sociaal--historische verklaring

Samenvatting

Traumatic Neurosis: A Sociohistorical Exploration. An exploration of the sociohistorical background of the controversial diagnosis of traumatic neurosis in the late 1800s, a diagnosis that later became largely a medical anachronism. Special attention is given to advances in medical theory on this topic since WWII. Two key historical considerations are noted: (1) the connection to principles of European legal accident compensation; and (2) debates between neurologists and psychiatrists as to whether traumatic neurosis was due to organic or psychological factors. If no organic damage could be found, the accident victim was thought to suffer from a functional neurosis, or was accused of feigning illness. Treatment and compensation depended on sociopolitical factors as well, as was shown during WWI. Special attention is given to the ongoing debate in the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Netherlands, and to the effects of the related malady of war neurosis, and traumatic neurosis as "pension neurosis.". Adapted from the source document.