Psychiatric illness and suicide in the heroic age of Antarctic exploration

• Published in: History of Psychiatry
• Main Author: Guly, HR
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2012
• Subjects: Psychiatry and Mental health; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0957154x11399209; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0957154X11399209; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/0957154X11399209

During the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, a number of the early explorers developed psychiatric illness either in the Antarctic or shortly after leaving it. Most of these were psychotic illnesses and stress reactions. At least six explorers committed suicide either in the Antarctic or after their return. These cases are described, and possible reasons for the apparent high incidence of psychiatric disease and suicide are discussed. There are also examples of the possible misuse of psychiatric labels.