combat fatigue

combat fatigue
n.
a psychoneurotic condition characterized by anxiety, irritability, depression, etc., often occurring after prolonged combat in warfare

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also called  battle fatigue,  or  shell shock,  

      a neurotic disorder caused by the stress involved in war. This anxiety-related disorder is characterized by (1) hypersensitivity to stimuli such as noises, movements, and light accompanied by overactive responses that include involuntary defensive jerking or jumping (startle reactions), (2) easy irritability progressing even to acts of violence, and (3) sleep disturbances including battle dreams, nightmares, and inability to fall asleep. Although persons in combat differ widely in their susceptibility to combat fatigue, because of hereditary factors and previous training, most cases result from exposure to physical hardship, prolonged and excessive exertion, and emotional conflicts. The emotional conflicts usually are related to loss of comrades, leaders, and group support, together with other precipitating events in the battle setting. Most individuals are best treated by being kept near the front lines and given rest, food, and sedation, provided they are permitted to stay with their units. U.S. armed forces in the late 1960s claimed to have nearly eliminated the occurrence of combat fatigue, attributing their success to practices such as frequent troop rotations, regular hot meals and other comforts for troops in combat areas, rest and recreation leaves away from the war zone, quick evacuation of wounded and good medical care, and application of psychiatric techniques to whole units as well as to individuals. Despite these claims, however, the Vietnam War, especially after 1969, produced a large number of American veterans with behavioral and drug-abuse problems.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • combat fatigue — n [U] a type of mental illness caused by the terrible experiences of fighting in a war or battle →↑post traumatic stress disorder ▪ These treatment methods enabled 80 percent of combat fatigue affected troops to return to duty …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • combat fatigue — n. a psychoneurotic condition characterized by anxiety, irritability, depression, etc., often occurring after prolonged combat in warfare …   English World dictionary

  • combat fatigue — noun a mental disorder caused by stress of active warfare • Syn: ↑battle fatigue, ↑combat neurosis, ↑shell shock • Hypernyms: ↑posttraumatic stress disorder, ↑PTSD * * * noun [noncount] : ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • combat fatigue —    an unwillingness or inability to continue fighting    Not just weariness from broken nights, poor shelter, irregular food, unchanged clothing, lice, ulcers, and the other discomforts of active service but a reaction to prolonged exposure to… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • combat fatigue — combat fa,tigue noun uncount a mental illness caused by a reaction to fighting in a war …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • combat fatigue — com·bat fatigue käm .bat n post traumatic stress disorder occurring under wartime conditions (as combat) that cause intense stress called also battle fatigue, shell shock, war neurosis …   Medical dictionary

  • combat fatigue — noun Date: 1943 post traumatic stress disorder under wartime conditions (as combat) that cause intense stress called also battle fatigue, shell shock …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • combat fatigue — battle fatigue, traumatic condition suffered by soldiers who have been in combat …   English contemporary dictionary

  • combat fatigue — com′bat fatigue n. psi battle fatigue • Etymology: 1940–45 …   From formal English to slang

  • combat fatigue — noun 1》 more recent term for shell shock. 2》 (combat fatigues) uniform worn by soldiers in combat …   English new terms dictionary

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