It is well known that First World War represented also a great laboratory, for psychology and psychiatry in particular. The topic of "war neurosis", the psychological trauma suffered by soldiers deployed at front-line, has already attracted considerable attention and has been explored in historiography. Still, in the occasion of the centenary of the conflict (2014-2018), it seems important to pay further attention to this subject, which offers many important areas which have not been yet fully discussed.

The conference organisers are interested in contributions dedicated in particular to the Italian situation, but also to international comparison. In particular, presentations on the following issues are sought for:

-   war psychiatry and neuro-psychiatric war services of the Italian Army: their centres and players, with particular reference to the front emergency psychiatric and neurological services, also in comparison with existing similar services of other Countries’ armies

-   war, psychiatrists, psychologists: how and how many took part in the conflict? What kind of reflections ensued? How was, in Italy and abroad, the political and scientific debate in scientific journals?

-   the nosographic issue: how were the symptom soldiers presented with named? What meaning was given to different diagnoses in different contexts?

-   life in asylums during the war (in active war areas but also far from the front) and in the years following the war: what was the impact of the war on the lives of inpatients (military and civilian), and on health professionals?

-   the experience of prisoners of war, refugees and displaced persons: what the consequences on their minds?

Scholars of every experience level are invited to submit proposals for papers.

A summary in Italian or English (max 500 words) should by sent together with the author’s curriculum vitae to: Chiara Bombardieri (chiara.bombardieri@ausl.re.it).

The Scientific Committee of the Centre for the History of Psychiatry will screen submissions and chosen contributions will be included in the official program of the conference by May 2016.

The conference will take place in September 2016 (exact date tba).

The conference proceedings will be published.

Conference venue:  Museo di Storia della Psichiatria, via Amendola 2 – area ex San Lazzaro, 42122 Reggio nell'Emilia, Italia

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Contact:

Dr.ssa Chiara Bombardieri

Director of Library and Archive of former psychiatric asylum S. Lazzaro

Curator of Museum of history of psychiatry

Via Amendola 2

42122 Reggio Emilia

Italy 

0522-335280

chiara.bombardieri@ausl.re.it