The current emergency presents a great opportunity for psychiatry. Enormous preparations are under way in armies, military, industrial and civilian. Each group must be reached and helped by psychiatry to an under-standing of the imperative necessity of diminishing and even relinquishing its right in order to save the democratic structure, ideologically, socially and culturally. Psychiatry as a medical science must preserve and heighten morale during the trying times of sacrifice.
The role of psychiatry in national defense can be discussed from several points of view: (1) present status of psychiatric preparedness; (2) utilization of methods of psychiatry for the peace time conscript army, the significance of morale; (3) psychiatry in industrial mobilization and civilian mental health services; (4) adequate care of psychiatric casualties during peace and war; (5) disability and compensation problems.
PRESENT STATUS OF PSYCHIATRIC PREPAREDNESS
Psychiatry is better prepared now than before the last World War to meet