20 Great Movies That Show The Effects of Psychological Trauma (Taste of Cinema)

Created by Armoreska.

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The powerful and tragic effects of psychological trauma truly entered the consciousness of mainstream America as veterans were returning from the Vietnam War. This prompted the American Psychological Association to finally recognize Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as an actual affliction in 1980.

Prior to this new diagnosis, terms like “shell shock”, “combat fatigue”, and “hysteria” were used to describe the bevy of short- and long-term symptoms that patients often felt after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

While the diagnosis of PTSD did not exist until the early ‘80s, authors and filmmakers had been exploring the horrifying and detrimental impact of psychological trauma for decades. As is the case with trauma, film has represented the varied and unpredictable symptoms that manifest in sufferers.

Additionally, through the years the film industry has captured the wide array of events and situations that can leave a permanent scar on the psyche. While some portrayals have bordered on melodramatic and over-the-top, many others have been subtle and nuanced in their approaches.