Medical Pioneer. He was the first to identify what has become known as "post traumatic stress disorder". He studied at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received postgraduate education in Paris, France and Vienna, Austria. Returning from Europe, he began practicing and teaching in Philadelphia. During the Civil War, he served as assistant surgeon in the Union Army. He studied what he called "irritable heart" in soldiers; the research was profound in clinical medicine. The diagnosis which he called "irritable heart" became "soldier's heart," "DaCosta's syndrome," and, finally, "post traumatic stress disorder." After the Civil War, DaCosta returned to teaching at Pennsylvania Hospital until 1900. His research, writing, and teaching developed the specialty of internal medicine. Retiring in 1891, DaCosta continued to work to improve medical education and served as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. DaCosta's psychiatric interest begun in Vienna is seen in "Clinical lecture on spurious or 'phantom' tumors of the abdomen." His masterwork, however, was "Medical Diagnosis." It was the first complete diagnostic handbook.
Medical Pioneer. He was the first to identify what has become known as "post traumatic stress disorder". He studied at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received postgraduate education in Paris, France and Vienna, Austria. Returning from Europe, he began practicing and teaching in Philadelphia. During the Civil War, he served as assistant surgeon in the Union Army. He studied what he called "irritable heart" in soldiers; the research was profound in clinical medicine. The diagnosis which he called "irritable heart" became "soldier's heart," "DaCosta's syndrome," and, finally, "post traumatic stress disorder." After the Civil War, DaCosta returned to teaching at Pennsylvania Hospital until 1900. His research, writing, and teaching developed the specialty of internal medicine. Retiring in 1891, DaCosta continued to work to improve medical education and served as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. DaCosta's psychiatric interest begun in Vienna is seen in "Clinical lecture on spurious or 'phantom' tumors of the abdomen." His masterwork, however, was "Medical Diagnosis." It was the first complete diagnostic handbook.
Bio by: rjschatz
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