shell shock

WW I soldiers who became psychiatric casualties were generally diagnosed as suffering from shell-shock in the belief that their brains had been concussed by the explosion of a nearby shell. A 1922 War Office committee recognized that breakdown was far more complex than this: although there were some cases caused by concussion, battle exhaustion and other war neuroses were far more frequent.

— Richard Holmes

Psychological disturbance caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare, especially being under bombardment.Also called combat fatigue.

shell-shocked adj.

Etymology: World War I: with reference to exposure to shellfire.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.