Pierre Janet's treatment of post-traumatic stress

Pierre Janet's therapeutic approach to traumatized patients was the first attempt to create a systematic, phase-oriented treatment of post-traumatic stress. Janet viewed the trauma response basically as a disorder of memory which interfered with effective action. Relying heavily on the use of hypnosis, he taught that the treatment of post-traumatic psychopathology consisted of forming a stable therapeutic relationship; retrieving and transforming traumatic memories into meaningful experiences; and taking effective action to overcome learned helplessness. Most of his observations and recommendations are as challenging today as when he first made them, starting a century ago.Written while the first author was affiliated with the Department of Pscyhiatry, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands