Neurotica

Neurotica is a term often used in psychology and psychoanalysis to describe a category of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also known as neurosis. Neurotica is not used in current psychiatric nomenclature, but is seen in the historical context of psychoanalysis.

History

The term "neurotica" was first coined by Scottish doctor William Cullen in 1769 to refer to "disorders of sense and motion" caused by a "general affection of the nervous system." For Cullen, Neurotica included diseases which are now categorized under neurology, psychiatry, and cardiology.

In the mid-19th century, neurotica became associated with nervous disorders and abnormalities of the nervous system that were not attributable to a demonstrable organic cause. In this context, the term was quickly adopted by Sigmund Freud and his followers to describe disorders that we would today call anxiety disorders or mood disorders.

Freudian Psychoanalysis

In Freudian psychoanalysis, neurotica refers to a class of neuroses characterized by anxiety, which Freud believed to be the result of internal psychological conflicts. Freud's theory of neurotica has been influential in the field of psychology, shaping the way mental disorders are understood and treated.

Modern Usage

In modern usage, the term "neurotica" is often used more broadly to refer to any mental disorder that is not a psychosis, which includes conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and phobias. However, it is not a term used in current psychiatric nomenclature.

See Also

• Neurosis
• Psychology
• Psychoanalysis
• Sigmund Freud
• Anxiety disorder
• Mood disorder