Friday
Jun042010
psychosis v. neurosis
Friday, June 4, 2010 Psychosis
Psychosis is a severe mental disorder characterized by loss of contact with objective reality, brought about by delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking. Psychotics exhibit unusual behavior, undergo radical personality changes, and are not able to function normally. Psychosis may not be permanent, and can be treated with medication or psychotherapy.
Neurosis
A neurosis is a milder mental or emotional disorder not involving delusions and hallucinations. Neuroses include anxiety, insecurity, depression, irrational fears, hypochondria, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and some tics. Neurotics may be able to lead relatively normal, functional lives. Neurosis is usually treated with psychotherapy. The term neurosis is no longer in scientific use.