Neurosis and psychosis are two different categorisations of mental health conditions.
Neurosis is a mental health condition characterized by anxiety, worry, fear, and other negative emotions. People with neurosis may experience these emotions to a greater extent than is warranted by the situation, and they may have trouble coping with everyday life as a result. They may have difficulty with relationships, work, or other areas of life. Neurosis is usually treatable with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Psychosis, on the other hand, is a severe mental health condition that affects a person's ability to think and perceive reality. People with psychosis may experience hallucinations, delusions, or other types of distorted thinking. They may have trouble communicating or interacting with others and may exhibit unusual or irrational behavior. Psychosis is often treated with medication and therapy, and it may require hospitalization if the person is a danger to themselves or others.
In general, neurosis is less severe than psychosis and does not typically involve the same level of impairment in thinking and functioning.
To borrow the computer metaphor, another way of thinking about this is neurosis is mostly a problem in the software, psychosis is mostly a problem with the hardware.
Some common examples of neurosis include:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): This is a condition characterized by excessive worry and anxiety that lasts for at least six months. People with GAD may worry excessively about a wide range of topics, including their health, finances, relationships, and work.
Panic disorder: This is a condition characterized by recurrent panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort that can include physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Phobias: A phobia is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation, such as fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of animals (zoophobia), or fear of public speaking (glossophobia).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): This is a condition characterized by repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that a person feels the need to perform. Examples of obsessions might include fear of germs or contamination, and examples of compulsions might include hand-washing or checking things repeatedly.
Diagnosis of neurosis typically involves a combination of a psychological evaluation, a physical examination, and possibly laboratory tests to rule out other medical conditions. A mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, will ask the person about their symptoms and may use a structured questionnaire or assessment tool to help make a diagnosis.
Some common examples of psychosis include:
Schizophrenia: This is a severe mental health condition characterized by hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), delusions (fixed false beliefs), and disorganized thinking and behavior. People with schizophrenia may have difficulty functioning in everyday life and may experience a range of symptoms, including changes in mood, difficulty speaking and communicating, and a lack of motivation.
Bipolar disorder: This is a condition characterized by extreme changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. People with bipolar disorder may experience episodes of mania (elevated mood and energy) or depression (low mood and energy), as well as periods of normal mood. Psychosis can occur during manic or depressive episodes.
Major depression with psychosis: This is a type of depression that is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities, as well as psychosis. People with this condition may experience hallucinations, delusions, or other types of distorted thinking.
As with neurosis, formal diagnosis requires a combination of a psychological evaluation, a physical examination, and possibly laboratory tests to rule out other medical conditions.