psychoneurosis
/,saikounjuə'rousis/
Definition
Noun: A psychological disorder characterized by anxiety, depression, or other symptoms of emotional distress, without evidence of physical disease or neurological damage. It involves maladaptive patterns of thought and behavior that cause significant distress or impairment.
Usage
This is a clinical term, primarily used in psychology, psychiatry, and medicine. It describes a category of mental disorders where the primary symptoms are psychological (e.g., anxiety, obsessive thoughts) rather than stemming from a detectable physical illness.
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with a psychoneurosis characterized by chronic anxiety and compulsive rituals.
- Early psychoanalytic theory focused heavily on the treatment of psychoneurosis.
- His symptoms were consistent with a psychoneurosis, so the doctor recommended psychotherapy rather than medication for a neurological condition.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term "psychoneurosis" was more common in early psychoanalytic theory (e.g., Freudian psychology) to distinguish certain disorders from "psychosis." Its use in modern diagnostic manuals (like the DSM-5) has declined in favor of more specific disorder names.
- "Neurosis" vs. "Psychoneurosis": These terms are often used synonymously. "Psychoneurosis" explicitly emphasizes the psychological ("psycho-") nature of the neurotic condition.
Variants and Related Words
- Neurosis (noun): A less technical, more general term often used interchangeably with psychoneurosis to describe a non-psychotic mental disorder.
- Psychoneurotic (adjective): Relating to or suffering from a psychoneurosis.
Synonyms
- Neurosis
- Anxiety disorder (in modern contexts, for specific types)
- Functional disorder (in a broad medical sense)
Antonyms
- Psychosis (a severe mental disorder involving a break from reality, as in schizophrenia)
- Organic disorder (a disorder with a known physical or neurological cause)
Noun
-
a mental or personality disturbance not attributable to any known neurological or organic dysfunction
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
