Common mental illnesses have been diagnosed separately in recent years,
but what is seldom understood is that they are all linked together,
often much more closely than other disorders. In particular, combined
anxiety and depression linked to personality disturbance, generally
known as neuroticism, is very common. In the absence of awareness of its
importance, this frequently leads to wrong clinical decisions and poor
outcomes for patients. This book focuses on the concept of neurosis,
tracing its history as a concept, its abolition from the DSM, the
purpose and importance of the Nottingham Study of Neurotic Disorder, the
re-definition of neurosis as the general neurotic syndrome, and its
recently updated evidence base. Written for psychiatrists, psychologists
and researchers, this book shows how recognising these combined common
disorders is absolutely necessary for mental health practice, and urges
that it is time that we re-examine our treatment priorities.