Issue 3/4 Vol. 34 1992

The position of psychiatry and psychology in the 1991/1992 war in Croatia

JUKIC, V.

The importance of psychiatry in war was first realized at the beginning of this century. However, psychiatry became an issue of military interest only at the end of World War I. Analyses of the mental health of soldiers revealed a psychological background in almost one third of war losses.

On the basis of American and Israeli experiences in modern warfare, Croatian psychiatry entered the defence lines even before the war started. Formation of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology of the Central Medical Corps of the Republic of Croatia marks the beginning of organized psychiatric activity.

Experiences from the war will be particularly useful in the postwar period as it is already apparent that it carries the heaviest load of work for psychiatrists. Psychotraumas caused by forceful expulsion from home, air raids and shelling, and exposure to brutal and inhuman enemy behaviour, are present in many and will certainly require a lot of our effort and work.

Keywords: psychiatry in war, war, traumatic experiences

Short Title: Jukic, V. (1992) PsyBeit 3-4:215

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