Author speaking on mental trauma to Civil War soldiers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An author on books about the Civil War is speaking Saturday at the Tennessee State Museum about psychological trauma suffered by soldiers during and after the war 150 years ago.

Northern Kentucky University regents professor of history emeritus Michael Adams writes that the extent of psychological damage to soldiers and civilians wasn’t understood because psychiatry didn’t become established until the 1890s. Adams says at the time of the war, doctors misdiagnosed mental conditions as cowardice, character loss or even lack of patriotism.

Adams will speak at 2 p.m. at the museum in Nashville. The program is free and open to the public.

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