Psychoneurotic Personality Disorder Treatment Q&A

The term psychoneurosis disorder has historically been used to describe mental health disorders that develop as a result of traumas and stress that have been experienced by an individual that affect the individual’s mood, behavior, and thoughts. This term is not used as an official diagnosis anymore but encompasses a few mental health disorders that can be characterized by distress, anxiety, and maladaptive coping mechanisms. Instead of referring to a variety of disorders that would have previously fallen under the breadth of psychoneurosis disorders, they can often be more accurately diagnosed as anxiety disorders, more specifically generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobia, or panic disorder. These mental health disorders can cause problems for the patient in both their daily lives as well as their social relationships. 

While the previously used term psychoneurosis was used to refer to disorders that could be characterized as anxiety, distress, and maladaptive coping mechanisms, the specific diagnoses that are now more accurately provided in place of this general term will vary from disorder to disorder. The characteristics of a generalized anxiety disorder include persistent and excessive worrying or anxiety about a variety of daily aspects, with more specific characteristics including difficulty controlling the excessive worry, chronic anxiety, as well as physical symptoms such as fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating.

The characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include obsessions and compulsions that are time-consuming, lead to feelings of anxiety and distress, are very difficult to ignore and resist, and significantly impact the individual’s daily life. 

Panic disorders can typically be characterized by panic attacks, a fear of future attacks that can interfere with the individual’s behavior as they avoid certain places or situations related to their attacks, increased levels of anxiety, often in anticipation of another possible attack, as well as worry or heightened sensitivity to physical symptoms out of fear of an oncoming attack. 

Phobias are characterized as an intense and irrational fear of certain activities, objects, or situations, leading to fear and avoidance of the specific phobia, an immediate and excessive anxiety response to the phobic stimulus, as well as having specific triggers that lead to phobia reactions. 

Psychoneurosis in and of itself is no longer used as a specific diagnosis but instead encompasses several diagnostic categories that are used to classify mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and others. Each of these categories has several even more specific disorders for which patients can be diagnosed depending on the certain criteria that are used for accurate diagnosis, making providing each patient with an accurate course of treatment much easier to achieve. 

There are various criteria as well as symptoms that can provide substantial insight for psychiatrists to accurately diagnose patients, but these symptoms can often vary a bit from patient to patient, making receiving an accurate diagnosis just as much about the displayed symptoms and criteria as it is the level of experience and knowledge of the psychiatrist. Some examples of specific diagnoses that can be considered within the umbrella of psychoneurosis include generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to name a few. 

There are many different treatment options available for the various diagnoses that are considered to be included under the previously used term psychoneurosis, with the specific treatments used being determined depending on the specific diagnosis, as well as the needs and preferences of each patient. Some of the commonly used treatment methods for these mental health disorders include cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, medication, or a combination of two or more options. 

Medication is typically provided in conjunction with therapy to provide patients with long-term coping strategies for their mental health disorders. It will be up to the psychiatrist to work with their patient to determine a treatment plan that will be effective and suitable, with many plans having a degree of customization or including personalized guidance to ensure that it can more accurately fit the needs of each individual. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Boynton Beach FL, Delray Beach FL, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Jupiter FL, Stuart FL, Palm City FL, Royal Palm Beach FL, Wellington FL, Vero Beach FL, Citrus Ridge FL, Plantation FL, Sunrise FL, Jacksonville FL, Riverside FL, Port St. Lucie FL, Beau Rivage West FL, Melbourne FL, Palm Bay FL, and surrounding areas.