Psychosis Vs. Neurosis - Definitions & Differences
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Psychosis
Psychosis is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state involving the loss of contact with reality, causing the detioration of normal social functioning. (Reference: Stedman's Medical Dictionary) The word was first used by Ernst Von Reuchtersleben as an alternative for the terms "insanity" and "mania," and is derived from the Greek psyche (mind) and -osis (diseased or abnormal condition).
Today, the difference in uses for the terms "psychosis" and "insanity" is vast, the latter employed primarily in a legal setting to denote that a person cannot be held responsible for his or her actions in a court of law, due to psychological distress. Psychosis, on the other hand, is not a clincial diagnosis in and of itself, but, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a symptom common to several other mental illness categories.
The three primary causes of psychosis are "functional" (mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), "organic" (stemming from medical, non-psychological conditions, such as brain tumors or sleep deprivation), and psychoactive drugs (eg barbituates, amphetamines, and hallucinogens).
A psychotic episode may involve hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and/or disordered thinking. Psychosis is not necessarily permanent, and occurs in both the chronically mentally ill and otherwise healthy individuals. It is treated by the prescription of anti-psychotic medications, psychotherapy, and, in extreme cases, periods of hospitalization.
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Neurosis
Neurosis is a general term referring to mental distress that, unlike psychosis, does not prevent rational thought or daily functioning. This term, coined by William Cullen in the 18th century, has fallen out of favor along with the psychological school of thought called psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud.
The DSM no longer lists "neurosis" as a category of mental illness, but disorders associated with the term have included obsessive-compulsive, chronic anxiety, phobias, and pyromania.
While the Greek roots (neuron, meaning "nerve," and -osis, meaning "disease") implies disorder, neurosis affects most of us in some mild form or other. The problem lies in neurotic thoughts or behaviors that significantly impair, but do not altogether prevent, normal daily living.
Neurosis is commonly treated, rather controversially, by psychoanalysis or other psychotherapy, despite the debate over whether or not counselors of this sort are qualified to accurately diagnosis and treat what is defined as a disorder of the nervous system.
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Thank you for this thorough and extremely clear explanation! I'm reading a book that uses both terms and thought they were interchangeable. I'm glad you cleared this up for me.
I remember this from college. You've summed these terms up better than my Psych 101 Prof. Nicely written. I'd love to see more articles about different mental disorders as succinct as this article is.
Great Hub, makes sense with the differences, how easily we get confused with the two.
This is a great write up. not only is it well written, it has obviously been well researched and contains some great diagrams. Thanks.
Really impressed with your clarity. Very succinct and clear. Strange, isn't it how terms for mental disorders filter into the vernacular so easily from mad and insane, through maniac to schizo and psycho. And most of them pejorative. Without a doubt, madness possesses huge mystique.
Maddie,
Your handling of the topic was done succintly and effeciently. I like the way you split insanity from psychosis.
I like the way of explaining the differences of pychosis and neurosis it helps me to understand more about it! Thank You!!
Great job explaining a complex topic.
Great Hub! Very professionally rendered! Kudos!
Nice professional presentation. It makes me want to write a hub on how they look in real life, from the perspective of psychiatric crisis work. These days most people don't talk about neurosis, but many people come to the crisis service suffering from a psychotic episode.
Thanks.
The information provided in here has helped me before one day of my exam.
well done!
thanks once again..
Thank you hub for these great efforts .. .. but we tought in the school much more details about the different between Neurosis Vs Psychosis.. i'm going to list them in brief for the benefit of the people here :
1) lack of insight happened with psychosis but not with neurosis.
2) the surrounding are suffering in psychosis but in neurosis the patient himself/herself suffers.
3) Psychosis sometime associated with delusions and hallucination. but Neurosis is not associated with delusion and hallucination.
4) Psychosis features are abnormal in Quality(e.g. delusion).But neurosis features are abnormal in Quantity(e.g. anxiety.
thank you again and again i really get benefit from this website and what i post is the least thing to pay back :)
Juman
Great hub and thank you. Between you and Juman I learned something new for me.
We are fans,
Stacey & Bobby
Like Dr Murray Banks says: "The neurotic builds dream castles in the air, the psychotic moves into these castles, and the psychiatrist collects the rent."
thanks for the information it was well stated.
thank u juman now i com to know that im neurotic
I feel rather enlightened after reading this article for my definition of neurotic appears to be incorrect to an extent- yet I claim to have a reasonable knowledge of psychology >_
I FOUND IT SORT AND RELIABLE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.
"Psychosis Vs. Neurosis" Poet and didn't know it! ;-)
good summary, very informative and nice hub ;)
Interesting articles, thanks.
very well explained...
well explained . . It really helped me alot
The above information is really good for psychology students and even for public who want to get aware about the mental health issues.
hey thanks a lot i needed the detailed information coz im studying psychology and had to know the difference between the two in abnormal psychology!!!!
Hi Maddie and thanks for a very informative hub. I'm in the mental health field and love reading anything related. You made this easy and enjoyable to read:)
This hub was amazing! I loved every bit of it. I learned so much more. Thanks
Wow, this helped me a ton! Nice pictures, by the way.
That's really great article!
I was also using these terms without getting the medical meaning of these terms but now I clearly understands the meaning of these terms with respect to science and will now use it on only correct situation and time.
thx po the term of Neurosis and Psychosis now i learn the term thx again !
Sweet hub, this is awesome. Voted up.
FANTASTIC DIFFERENCIATION
I'm still not quite clear on what neurosis is. Could you tell me the symptoms or manifestations of neurosis? This is an excellent hub and very well researched.
hi i m a student of applied psychology and this article gave me immense information as this is in my course of IV semister..thanx a lot and special thanx to Jusway Alghamdi for adding the information
Hi lambservant,
There are many different kinds of neurosis, so it is hard to have a set list of symptoms, but phobic behavior, obsessive/compulsive behavior, and extreme anxiety can all be signs of neurosis.
The artcile is really good for clinical psychology students and even for public who want to get acquited with these two words.
Well written and well understood. Kudos to that!
thnx alot nice information
Thanks for this excellent hub. Its easy to understand.
Thanx for the info it greatly helped me
this is encouraging
Very well written!! Great help.
Really Sir now I am very clear about psychosis vs nuerosis..thanks a lot..
Colpitts7 4 years ago
Well researched and written: Since I have suffered from Manic-depressor disorder, I am well acquainted with both terms. Thanks for this well written and needed article.