Neurotic disorders: symptoms, causes, and clinical manifestations

¶ … neurotic disorders, gives some examples of such disorders, describes the symptoms, and discusses how these neurotic disorders can be treated.

Neurotic disorders (also known as neurosis in psychiatry) are a broad category of psychological disturbance, encompassing various mild forms of mental disorder without psychotic symptoms. They are of a relatively milder nature as compared to more serious mental disorders such as hypomania, schizophrenia or major depression. However, the symptoms of neurotic disorders are distressing to the individual and considered as unacceptable by the sufferer. Social relationships may be greatly affected by such a condition but usually remain within acceptable limits. The disorder persists without treatment. (Green, 1999; "Neurotic Disorders: definition,": Medical Glossary.org, 2004)

Examples of Neurotic Disorders

Neurotic disorders can be categorized in different ways. One way of classifying them is according to the kinds of feelings they generate, e.g., Anxiety disorders, Phobias, Obsessive compulsive disorders, Hypochondriasis, Hysterical neurosis, and Neurasthenia. (Shah, 2001) Due to reasons of space, description, symptoms and treatment of the first 4 neurotic disorders only listed above shall be discussed in this paper.

1. Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety neurosis is more than just feeling anxious, which is a normal reaction to certain stressful situations. It is only when anxiety keeps us from "coping" and disrupts our daily life is it classified as a mental disorder. ("Introduction: Anxiety Disorders," 2004) If such anxiety is episodic and acute it is known as panic disorder; if it is chronic and persistent it is known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It is estimated that about 5% of the population may suffer from acute or chronic anxiety with more women than men (in a ratio of 2:1) being afflicted with anxiety.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of anxiety are both psychological and physical apart from a general feeling of tension and nervousness and a fearful preoccupation with the future. The common physical symptoms of anxiety, more pronounced in acute anxiety, are palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, tremulousness, hot and cold flushes, dizziness and fainting. The psychological symptoms include restlessness, fearfulness, apprehension, decreased concentration and irritability. Other symptoms associated with GAD include headache, body-ache, and insomnia. (Shah, 2001)

Treatment:

Treatment for anxiety neurosis includes Relaxation therapy including deep muscle relaxation therapy, hypnotherapy, yoga, and meditation; Psychotherapy and counseling through discussion of the problems between the patient and a trained psychotherapist; and Medication, through mild tranquilizers, anti-depressants and beta-blockers. The three treatments may also be combined. (Shah, 2001; "Treatments for Anxiety Disorders," 2003)

2. Phobias

Phobia is characterized by excessive and irrational fear of a specific object, activity or situation.

The phobias may be subdivided into: agoraphobia, social phobia, and simple phobia. According to Dr. Ben Green, about 8% of the population suffers from some kind of phobia.

Symptoms:

Agoraphobia is characterized by feelings of panic in crowded places such as the market place, or public transport and avoidance of social situations. As a result, the sufferer often prefers to stay at home. More women than men suffer from agoraphobia. More women than men suffer from the affliction and the 'disease' may run in families along female lines. (Green, 1999: "Notes on Neurotic Disorders," 2000)

Social phobia involves fear of meeting people. It is different from agoraphobia because in social phobia, the sufferer has a fear of one-to-one interactions rather that fear of crowded places. People suffering from social phobia are obsessively concerned about appearing stupid or the 'odd man out' in social situations. Anticipatory anxiety leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of reduced confidence and increased anxiety in social situations.

Simple phobia is an irrational fear of a specific object such as spiders, snakes, heights or knives. The result of all these phobias is avoidance behavior. (Shah, 2001)

Treatment:

The most common treatment for phobias is Behavior or Cognitive therapy. Behavioral therapy tries to change actions through techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing or through gradual exposure to what is frightening. Cognitive therapy is a form of psychotherapy using imagery, self-instruction, and related techniques to alter distorted attitudes and perceptions. A combination of the two therapies called cognitive-behavioral therapy is also used; it teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety. ("Treatments for Anxiety Disorders," 2003) Anti-depressant drugs such as imipramine and benzodiazapines alprazolam are used for the treatment of social phobia and agoraphobia phobia.

3. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)

These are behavioral disorder with obsessive thoughts and compulsive acts. People with OCD are plagued with anxious persistent thoughts and images they feel they cannot control, and often have an urgent need to engage in certain rituals.

Symptoms:

Typical symptoms of OCD include obsession with germs or dirt, resulting in washing of hands over and over; a feeling of doubt resulting in compulsion to check things repeatedly. Thoughts of violence and fear of harming people close to you. Some people with OCD may spend long periods of time touching things or counting; or have persistent thoughts of performing repugnant sexual acts or thoughts that are against one's religious beliefs.

The person does not derive pleasure by carrying out the rituals; only temporary relief occurs from the discomfort caused by the obsession. ("Symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder," 2003)

Treatment:

A type of behavioral therapy, called exposure and response prevention is often used for treating OCD. It consists of exposing the person to whatever triggers the problem and then helping him or her forego the usual ritual, e.g., making the person touch something dirty and then not wash his/her hands. Medications that have been found effective in treating OCD are clomipramine and fluoxetine. A combination of the two treatments as proved to be helpful for most patients. ("Treatments for Obsessive-compulsive disorder," 2003)