What is the Difference Between Neurotic and Psychotic Disorder

Mental disorders are conditions that affect people’s thinking, feelings, moods, and behaviours. They may happen over a short period of time or last long (chronic). Neurotic and psychotic disorders are two different types of mental disorders.

The key difference between neurotic and psychotic disorder is their severity. Neurotic disorder is a mild mental disorder that includes depression, anxiety, obsessive states, and somatic changes, while psychotic disorder is a major mental disorder that includes severe mental and emotional disruptions. 

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Neurotic Disorder
3. What is a Psychotic Disorder
4. Similarities – Neurotic and Psychotic Disorder
5. Neurotic vs Psychotic Disorder in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Neurotic vs Psychotic Disorder
7. FAQ – Neurotic and Psychotic Disorder

What is a Neurotic Disorder?

Neurotic disorder is a psychogenic disorder characterized by depression, anxiety, obsessive states, and somatic changes. The symptoms of neurotic disorder have a chronic, recurring course, with periods of exacerbation and improvement. Neurotic disorders can be caused by an inability to adequately respond to external stimuli that cause stress, such as the sound of dripping water from a tap, or strong external stimuli that are challenging even for people with a strong psyche, such as chronic stress at work, conflicts at home, domestic problems, health issues, loss of loved ones, and financial difficulties.

The symptoms of this condition may include high fatigue, sleep problems, irritability, anxiety, inability to manage everyday stresses, emotional lability, hyperfocus on stimuli, cognitive impairment, social adaptation issues, low self-esteem, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, disturbances in gait and balance, increased heart rate, breathlessness, shallow breathing, a sensation of a lump in the throat, abdominal pain, bloating, unstable stool, loss of appetite, sweating, trembling, non-specific pain, weakness, and dysfunction of the genitourinary system.

Neurotic disorders can be diagnosed through health history, physical examination, and neurological examination. Furthermore, treatment options for neurotic disorders may include cognitive and behavioural therapy, psychoanalysis, psychotherapeutic training, psychodynamic therapy, and prescribed medications such as antidepressants and tranquillizers.

What is a Psychotic Disorder?

Psychotic disorder is a severe mental disorder characterized by abnormal thinking and perceptions. The main symptoms of psychotic disorder may include hallucination, delusion, disordered form of thinking, disorganized or incoherent speech, confused thinking, strange, possibly dangerous behaviour, slowed or unusual movements, loss of interest in personal hygiene, loss of interest in activities, problems at school or work, cold, detached manner with inability to express emotion, and mood swings or other mood symptoms. Psychotic disorders can be caused by genetics (runs in families), stress, drug abuse, and major life changes.

Psychotic disorders can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and psychiatric evaluation. Furthermore, treatment options for psychotic disorders may include antipsychotic medications such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, loxapine, perphenazine, thioridazine, etc, psychotherapy, and social support.

Similarities Between Neurotic and Psychotic Disorder

• Neurotic and psychotic disorders are two different types of mental disorders.
• Both can be caused by stress and lifestyle changes.
• Both can be diagnosed through physical and mental evaluation.
• They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.

Difference Between Neurotic and Psychotic Disorder

Definition

1. Neurotic disorder is a psychogenic disorder characterized by depression, anxiety, obsessive states, and somatic changes.
2. Psychotic disorder is a severe mental disorder characterized by abnormal thinking and perceptions.

Affecting Personality

1. Neurotic disorder does not typically affect personality.
2. Psychotic disorder does affect personality.

Contact with Reality

1. In neurotic disorder, contact with reality may be partially lost.
2. In psychotic disorder, contact with reality is completely lost.

Causes

1. Neurotic disorders can be caused by an inability to adequately respond to external stimuli, such as chronic stress, conflicts at home, health problems, and financial issues.
2. Psychotic disorders can be caused by genetics, stress, drug abuse, and major life changes.

Symptoms

1. Neurotic disorder symptoms include high fatigue, sleep problems, irritability, anxiety, difficulty managing everyday stresses, emotional lability, hyperfocus on stimuli, cognitive impairment, social adaptation issues, low self-esteem, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, gait and balance disturbances, increased heart rate, breathlessness, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, sweating, trembling, non-specific pain, and dysfunction of the genitourinary system.
2. Psychotic disorder symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking, disorganized speech, confused thinking, strange or dangerous behavior, unusual movements, loss of interest in personal hygiene or activities, problems at school or work, cold, detached manner, and mood swings.

Diagnosis

1. Neurotic disorder is diagnosed through health history, physical examination, and neurological examination.
2. Psychotic disorder is diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and psychiatric evaluation.

Treatment

1. Neurotic disorder is treated with cognitive and behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, psychotherapeutic training, psychodynamic therapy, and prescribed medications such as antidepressants and tranquilizers.
2. Psychotic disorder is treated with antipsychotic medications such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, loxapine, and perphenazine, as well as psychotherapy and social support.

The following table summarizes the difference between neurotic and psychotic disorder.

Summary – Neurotic vs Psychotic Disorder

There are many different types of mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychotic disorders. Neurotic and psychotic disorders are two different types of mental disorders. However, neurotic disorder is characterized by depression, anxiety, obsessive states, and somatic changes, while psychotic disorder is characterized by abnormal thinking and perceptions. This is the basic difference between neurotic and psychotic disorder.

FAQ: Neurotic and Psychotic Disorder

1. What is a neurotic person like?

• A person who is neurotic acts and feels anxious. They also feel negative about themself, having many feelings of self-doubt. Moreover, they are characterized by obsessive states and somatic changes.

2. Can neuroticism be cured?

• There are effective ways to reduce the intensity of neuroticism and help people to better cope with it. These include making lifestyle adjustments, fortifying your support system, cognitive and behavioural therapy, and medications.

3. What are examples of psychotic disorders?

• Severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, paranoid personality disorder or schizotypal personality disorder, postpartum psychosis, and delusional disorder.

4. What are the main symptoms of a psychotic disorder?

• The main symptoms of psychotic disorder include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence), and grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour.

5. How to relieve psychosis?

• Talking therapies that help develop coping strategies, taking antipsychotic medications to manage symptoms, and engaging in arts therapies to express emotions in different ways are methods that can help relieve psychosis.

Reference:

1. France, Jenny. “Neurotic Disorders.” Speech and Communication Problems in Psychiatry. Springer Link.
2. “Understanding Psychosis.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Photo of Man Leaning on Wooden Table” (CC0) via Pexels.com.
2. “Crop unrecognizable black man sharing complains with female psychologist” (CC0) via Pexels.com.

Related posts:

Difference Between Bell’s Palsy and Facial Palsy Difference Between Megaloblastic and Pernicious Anemia What is the Difference Between Botulism and Tetanus What is the Difference Between Dumping Syndrome and Refeeding Syndrome What is the Difference Between ALS and PLS