Neurosis vs. Psychosis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Introduction - The human mind is complex—capable of logic, creativity, emotion, and resilience. But it can also falter, producing psychological distress that affects thoughts, feelings, and behavior. In psychiatry, two of the most important and historically distinct terms used to describe mental disorders are neurosis and psychosis. These two concepts represent very different levels of mental disturbance: • Neurosis involves distress, anxiety, or maladaptive coping, but the person retains a grip on reality. • Psychosis, on the other hand, represents a severe mental disorder where the individual loses touch with reality, often experiencing hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. In this article, we will take a deep dive into neurosis and psychosis, exploring their history, clinical features, causes, neurobiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Historical Background Freud and Psychoanalysis The term neurosis was widely used in psychoanalysis. Sigmund Freud saw n...