Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis III 1922 1.djvu/83

 BOOK REVIEWS 75

Ferenczi reviews and criticises the literature on the war neuroses from the standpoint of psycho-analysis. He seems to accept a fact pointed out by Morchen, BonhOffer and others that the traumatic neuroses are never seen in prisoners of war. I suppose the ' others ' are also German or Austrian writers, for no English author could have made such a statement. Numbers of English soldiers who have been prisoners of war are still suffering from war 'neuroses.

Ferenczi points out that an advance has taken place in the attitude of leading neurologists to the teachings of psycho-analysis, and quotes the writings of many German authorities to this effect '

In his remarks on the theoretical aspects of the war necroses he deals with the psychical symptoms. He finds that most of these symptoms are due to increased ego-sensitiveness, the result of the libido being withdrawn from the object into the ego. The symptom of anxiety is the sign of the shock to the self-confidence occasioned by the trauma. The tendency to outbursts of rage and anger is a highly primitive method of reaction to a superior force. The entire personality of most of the victims of trauma corresponds to the child who is fretting and naughty in consequence of a fright.

Abraham approaches the question of the aetiology of the war neuroses directly from the sexual standpoint. He finds that the war neuroses' have confirmed his original views regarding the importance of sexualit>- in the traumatic neuroses of peace time. He considers that at least in the majority of war neurotics there already existed prior to the war the predisposition to neurosis in that they were labile people, especially as regards their sexuality. Their sexual and social capacity of functioning was dependent on their making certain concessions to their narcissism. War placed these men under totally different conditions which signified the renunciation of all narcissistic privileges; these they could not forego and thus the neurosis broke out. He also makes a short reference to Uie so-called ' seeking for pension ' of the injured soldier, and shows that narcissism also explains the conduct of these patients. Narcissistic avarice dominates, the genital zone has lost its predominance, and anal- erotism is strengthened.

Jones in his contribution shows how the war neuroses can in a great measure be explained on the basis of Freud's theories.

He considers that the specific problems characteristic of the war neuroses are in connection with two broad groups of mental processes. One of these groups relates to war adaptation, the other to fear. On the question of war adaptation he points out that the soldier has to adjust his mental attitude to things to which he is quite unaccustomed and which repel him. A conflict is thus aroused, and a satisfactory solution of this conflict being unattainable under war conditions a neurosis develops as the only way out The ability to adjust will depend upon how far