Psychasthenia
Psychasthenia
Psychasthenia (pronounced: psy·chas·the·nia /ˌsīkəsˈTHēnēə/) is a psychological disorder characterized by phobias, obsessions, compulsions, or excessive anxiety.
Etymology
The term "psychasthenia" is derived from the Greek words "psyche" meaning "mind" and "astheneia" meaning "weakness". It was first used in the early 20th century by the French psychologist Pierre Janet to describe a condition where patients expressed feelings of mental fatigue and inability to carry out daily tasks.
Symptoms
Psychasthenia is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including:
- Phobias: Irrational fears of specific objects or situations.
- Obsessions: Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive and cause distress.
- Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession.
- Anxiety: A feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.
Related Terms
- Neurosis: A class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): A chronic disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.
- Anxiety disorder: A group of mental disorders characterized by significant feelings of anxiety and fear.
Treatment
Treatment for psychasthenia typically involves a combination of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication. The specific treatment plan will depend on the individual's specific symptoms and their severity.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Psychasthenia
- Wikipedia's article - Psychasthenia
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