Evening star., 1940-12-05
Army May Bar Men
With MenfaIities
Unsuitable for Duty
Leading Psychiutrists in
U. S. Study Problem
At Conference Here
By CARTER BROOKE JONES

The Army hopes to exclude selec-
tive service recruits who, while not
insane" are afflicted with per-
sonality disorders which make them
poor soldiers-types of men who
went into the World War in large
numbers and came out suffering
from shell shock
This was explained today by Army
psychiatristS as a small group, in
cluding some of the country's lead
Ing specialists in nervous and
mental diSorders-military and ci-
vilian-went into conference at
national selective service headquar-
ters to discuss means of making
Americas new defense Army of a
stable mental caliber as we'll as
sound physically.
The average physician, doctors at
tending the conference pointed out,
does not know a great deal about
nervous and mental diSeases-and
this was not said as any reflection
on the general practitioner but as a
reminder that psychiatry is a field
OF medicine requiring prolonged
study. For this reason it was hoped
to provide for local draft board
physicians all over the country the
opportunity to attend informative
conferences on pSychiatry.
Many Reflections Expected.
This plan is expected to acouaint
the examining doctors more fully
with signs of psychopathic person
ality or dominant neuroses which
may not be obvious and are ant to
escape notice in the average physical
examination. Borderline cases will
be sent to specialists for further
study.
While it is too early in the selec-
tive service process of 1910 for re-
ports on mental cases to have
reached Washington, it is anticipated
by the p'"chiatriStS attending to-
Gays meeting that a large number
OF men who may never require in
stltutlonal care, yet are too unstable
to make good soldiers, will be re-
Jected. They hope to provide a
system OF detecting as many Of
these cases as possible before the
men get into the Army.
During the World War" said a
leading Army psychiatrist, "a great
many men who never should have
been taken were drafted and sent
to the front. So-called cases of shell
shock came largely from such men.
Men normal mentally when they
went In were not nearly as apt to
come out nervous wrecks. 1t was
the unstable personality which could
not stand the stress of war. The
same thing Is true, to an extent, in
peace time training. Military life,
whether or not it involves war,
makes certain demands on a man
to which one suffering from a
chronic and deep-seated nervous dis
order can not adjust himself. Many
neurotics may get along all right in
civilian life, some holding down
responsible jobs, but the Army is no
place for them"
Invited by Dykstra.
The psychiatrists were invited
her by c. A. Dykstra, director of
selective service. Before each place
at the conference table was a copy
of letter which Mr.. Dykstra sent
State directors, State medical Of
ficers and others. In this COM
munication he said that "local
boards in their selection of regis
trants for induction should bear in
mind that these men are chosen for
year of training and service and
for 10 subsequent years in the
Reserve" adding that the men
selected should be clearly capable
of undergoing the physical demands
and the mental sNesSes of military
service and who may reasonably be
expected to remain capable of SER
vice at any time during their years
in reserve status should war come
Hpon U.s."
Mr.. Dykstra pointed out that
physical defects were not the only
cause for rejection, but mental and
personality deficiencies are of CO.
ordinate Importance"
Frederic Osborne, chief of the
Civilian Advisory Committee on Sc
lective Service, presided at the
conference. Those present included
Or. Winfred Overholser, superin-