EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT OF NEWLY BLINDED SOLDIERS

Abstract

One hundred and fifty newly blinded soldiers were given a thorough psychiatric evaluation of their previous civilian and military background and their emotional response to their disability. Of this number, 59% were found to be well adjusted to their blindness; 18% were definitely mal-adjusted; and 23% showed mild or borderline symptoms. The criteria for an adequate adjustment in the newly blinded soldier were a complete freedom from anxiety, depression, or undesirable aggressive behavior, or other psychiatric symptoms; a realistic acceptance of their disability; an appreciation of the need to undergo orientation and rehabilitation procedures; and a definite motivation towards the reestablishment of themselves as useful and productive citizens. Maladjustment appeared in the form of anxiety symptoms, mood disturbances, aggressive behavior, excessive dependency and apathy, unrealistic attitudes, guilt reactions, and mental confusion with memory difficulty. These abnormal responses were determined by preexisting neurotic and psychopathic traits; by blindness occurring as the result of non-combat injury and disease; by partial blindness of a degree too slight to be useful; by false prognoses and incomplete understanding by the patient of his disability; by brain trauma; and in a few cases, by attitudes of relatives. Blindness, as a mental stress does not appear, of itself alone, to be capable of producing abnormal mental or emotional reactions. If additional factors, such as those mentioned, be present, then pathological mental and emotional behavior will result in most cases. Psychotherapy of the maladjusted blind soldier, through suitable orientation and rehabilitation program, coupled with individual interviews, is feasible and contributes in positive fashion to his rehabilitation prospects. The greater number of newly combat-blinded soldiers are fully capable and desirous of re-establishing their psychological and socio-economic independence. It is a duty of society to make possible the fulfillment of these desires and the exercise of their capabilities.