neurosis

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neurosis Initially a disorder of the nerves, although Sigmund Freud distinguished ‘actual’ and ‘psycho-neuroses’ (the latter having psychological origins), and the term is now used in this sense. Frequently contrasted with psychoses, neuroses are considered less severe, involving an exaggerated response to reality, such as excessive fear (phobia) or anxiety. Some psychiatric classifications, such as the DSM-III, eschew the concept for its aetiological implications. Neuroticism is sometimes identified as an important personality dimension. See also DEPRESSION; MENTAL ILLNESS.

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