TREMORS OF COMBAT NEUROSES

Abstract

The acute neuroses of war are in many ways unlike any syndromes seen in peacetime civilian life. In World War II the first severe neuroses were seen in the men evacuated from the beaches at Dunkerque. These men showed several outstanding symptoms, many of which have since been described in the literature. They had all been exposed to severe strain; all were exhausted and dehydrated and in most cases had had no sleep for four days. In addition to the trial of physical endurance, they had been in continuous danger of death and had been exposed to the repeated trauma of seeing men die violent deaths. One frequent symptom was a gross tremor, usually of the hands, and in many cases this tremor was so marked that the diagnosis of paralysis agitans was in question. This diagnosis was supported by the facies, which was often masklike in its listlessness and