Question

Which of the following is not a neurotic disorder?

• A. Schizophrenia
• B. Anxiety disorder
• C. Compulsion disorder
• D. Phobia

Hint:

The key difference to remember is: {Neurosis} = high distress, but in touch with reality. {Psychosis} = loss of contact with reality. Schizophrenia is the most well-known psychotic disorder.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question uses the historical distinction between neurotic disorders (neuroses) and psychotic disorders (psychoses). Neurotic disorders are characterized by significant emotional distress and anxiety, but the individual remains in touch with reality. Psychotic disorders involve a loss of contact with reality, often including delusions or hallucinations.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
(B) Anxiety disorder: A classic example of a neurotic disorder, characterized by excessive worry and fear, but reality testing is intact.
(C) Compulsion disorder: This refers to the compulsive component of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which has traditionally been classified as a neurosis.
(D) Phobia: A specific type of anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational fear of an object or situation. It is also a neurotic disorder.
(A) Schizophrenia: This is the archetypal psychotic disorder. It is characterized by fundamental distortions in thinking, perception, and emotion, including positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, which represent a break from reality.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Anxiety disorders, compulsions, and phobias fall under the category of neurotic disorders. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder. Therefore, schizophrenia is not a neurotic disorder.