Impact On History
Rivers’ new methods for treating shell shock had an immediate impact. As WWI ended, military psychiatrists began to approach shell shock differently and saved many soldiers that otherwise would've been executed for desertion. Before Rivers' innovative work, military doctors didn’t understand shell shock, or the suffering soldiers, and accused them of cowardice and desertion. Rivers, in contrast, understood that the soldiers' psychological problems could be treated using psychotherapy. In an attempt to influence the British government, Rivers wrote an address that introduced his new ideas and advocated adopting a middle course.
“Here, as in so many other aspects of the treatment of neurosis, we have to steer a middle course. Just as we prescribe moderation in eating, drinking, and smoking, so is moderation necessary in talking, reading, and thinking about war experience.” -W.H.R. Rivers' Lancet Paper
Rivers’ work also had significant long term impact. Soldiers in later wars were correctly diagnosed with shell shock and successfully treated to make full recovery. Moreover, executions for desertion and cowardice became rare.
“Here, as in so many other aspects of the treatment of neurosis, we have to steer a middle course. Just as we prescribe moderation in eating, drinking, and smoking, so is moderation necessary in talking, reading, and thinking about war experience.” -W.H.R. Rivers' Lancet Paper
Rivers’ work also had significant long term impact. Soldiers in later wars were correctly diagnosed with shell shock and successfully treated to make full recovery. Moreover, executions for desertion and cowardice became rare.
Conclusion
WWII Shell-shocked Soldier Undergoing Psychoanalysis
As a result of Rivers’ work, people began to realize that under extreme circumstances, anyone could break down. People began questioning military discipline and laws relating military insubordination were changed. In 1930, the British government removed the death penalty for desertion and cowardice. And in 1989, the US National Center for PTSD was created to increase education, understanding, and treatment of PTSD.