Psychological dysfunction in battle: combat stress reactions and post-traumatic stress disorder

Although psychological dysfunction arising from stress on the battlefield has been known to exist since the American Civil War, it is not until recently that systematic research has investigated possible etiology, treatment, and prevention strategies for this disorder. Our paper, therefore, examines critically the literature on the nature of psychological dysfunction in battle. Classification of Combat Stress Reaction (CSR) and combat-related PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is examined. Literature about the epidemiology, etiology, assessment, and treatment of PTSD is emphasised in this review. A cognitive behavioral perspective is presented as a fruitful direction for future research