Breaking Point: The Ironic Evolution of Psychiatry in World War II

During World War II, the American psychiatry had a significant impact on the soldiers. Over 2.5 million men and women were rejected or discharged from military service on neuropsychiatric grounds, with psychiatrist Harry Stack Sullivan assuming that psychiatrists could predict who might break down or falter in military service. Despite this, psychiatric rejections, evacuations, and discharges mounted, and military psychiatrists switched their emphasis from screening to prevention and treatment, but this switch was too little too late and slowed by a year-long series of Inspector General investigations. Postwar America soon witnessed a dramatic growth in numbers, popularity, and influence of the profession, culminating in the National Mental Health Act (1946), but veterans with "PTSD" were largely neglected.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: Fordham University Press

Breaking Point is a groundbreaking work that delves into the profound impact of American psychiatry on soldiers during World War II, offering a comprehensive historical account that has been previously unseen. Drawing upon unpublished primary documents, oral histories, and extensive personal interviews conducted by the authors over several years, this book provides a detailed exploration of the subject matter. It begins with Franklin D. Roosevelt's endorsement of a universal Selective Service psychiatric examination, which was followed by pre- and post-induction examinations for both the Army and Navy.

However, the ultimate result of this program was astonishing, as 2.5 million men and women were rejected or discharged from military service on neuropsychiatric grounds. This unprecedented initiative has never been replicated by the United States before or since. Psychiatrist Harry Stack Sullivan, in designing Selective Service Medical Circular No. 1, believed that psychiatrists possessed the ability to predict individuals who were likely to experience breakdowns or fail in military service or even in civilian life. While many American and European psychiatrists raised doubts about this assertion, and the significant number of American psychiatric casualties soon called into question the validity of screenings, psychiatric and military leaders remained steadfast in their support for increasingly stringent screening measures in 1942 and 1943.

Unfortunately, this approach led to widespread complaints from families, who saw fathers and teens being drafted instead of being identified as psychiatric 4Fs. Additionally, marginalized groups such as Blacks and Native Americans expressed concerns about bias in the screening process. A frustrated General George S. Patton is known for slapping two "malingering" neuropsychiatric patients in Sicily, a sentiment shared by Marshall and Eisenhower, although they preferred a more moderate approach. Nevertheless, the number of psychiatric rejections, evacuations, and discharges continued to rise.

In early 1943, a small group of psychiatrists, led by Roy Grinker, ventured to Tunisia to provide treatment to soldiers stationed close to the front lines. However, this exception was the rule, as the majority of soldiers received no psychiatric care during the war. Breaking Point sheds light on a critical period in history, revealing the profound impact of American psychiatry on the lives of soldiers and the military as a whole. It serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical and responsible medical practices, particularly in times of conflict. Through its meticulous research and compelling storytelling, this book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of World War II and its enduring legacy.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531500122