269_281

Psychiatr. Pol. 2016; 50(1): 269–281

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12740/PP/43039

Tomasz Kucmin, Adriana Kucmin, Adam Nogalski,
Sebastian Sojczuk, Mariusz Jojczuk

FREE POLISH FULLTEXT:
Historia traumy i zaburzeń potraumatycznych w literaturze

FREE ENGLISH FULLTEXT:
History of trauma and posttraumatic disorders in literature

Summary
In 1980 a third edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) brought diagnostic criteria for a new diagnosis – posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This disorder is a result of highly intensive stressor and in many cases leads to sever psychiatric distress. Despite relatively recent introduction of PTSD as a new diagnosis, this disorder was excessively described in scientific papers as well as in fiction novels. Analysis of those descriptions across ages allows for the conclusion that character and type of stressors has changed, however, people’s reactions to highly intensive stressors are basically similar. First descriptions are found in notes of Egyptian physicians and then in papers of Homer, Herodotus and Plutarch. In consecutive parts of this paper, the authors present history of posttraumatic stress disorder describing contribution of Polish authors – Kepiński and Szymusik. Presented historical perspective of posttraumatic stress disorder allows for better understanding of reasons for introducing PTSD into classifications as well as controversies related to it.

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