neuroses

Last reviewed 01/2018

Neuroses are mental disorders without any demonstrable organic basis, in which the patient does not lose touch with external reality or experience psychotic symptoms. In general they represent exaggerated forms of the normal reactions to stressful events. Literally their name means a state of nerves.

Neuroses are characterised by:

• the absence of symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder or intellectual impairment
• anxiety is present
• there is no change in personality
• insight is preserved

Neuroses account for 20 to 25% of patients attending general practitioners.