Neuroses

The medical term neurosis originates from two Greek words: neuron (it means "nerve") and -osis (which is "diseased or pathological condition"). It was coined by the Scottish doctor William Cullen in 1769.

Neuroses are called psychoneurotic disorders caused by psychotraumatizing factors or by the effect of various unfavourable agents on the cerebral cortex, cerebral activity is disturbed in neurotic conditions. The famous Russian physiologist I.P. Pavlov was the first to establish that the brain cortex is the scene of 2 constant simultaneous processes-excitatoin and inhibition.

The work capacity of the nerve cells in the cerebral cortex is limited, so that overexcitation, overinhibition, or simultaneous overstimulation of both processes or of their mobility may disrupt brain activity. Under certain conditions such disruption results in a neurosis.

There are individuals of the strong type, in whom both cerebral processes are intensive, and individuals of the weak type in whom both processes are weak.

The type of a person's higher nervous activity develops under the influence of environment and training, although the inborn traits of the brain cortex are very important. A person with an inborn strong type of nervous activity may become unbalanced or inactive owing to faulty upbringing. Unbalanced persons are frequently subject to nervous activity failure, that is, neuroses.

Psychoneurotic disorders are formed in children more easily than in adults.

There are many different specific forms of neuroses: pyromania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety neurosis, hysteria, asthenic neurosis, combat neurosis, compensation neurosis, traumatic neurosis or post-traumatic stress disorder (war neurosis) and an endless variety of phobias.

The causes precipitating the formation of neurosis may be quite diversified. It is very important to reveal the causes of neuroses. The elimination of them will help to avoid the development of neuroses or will facilitate their cure.

Post-Text Assignments.

Exercise 7. Answer the questions:

What is the origin of the medical term "neurosis"?

Whom was this term coined by?

Is cerebral activity disturbed in neurotic conditions?

What is limited in the cerebral cortex?

Who are subject to nervous activity failure?

What forms of neuroses do you know?

What are the causes of neuroses?

Exercise 8. Find English equivalents for the following words and word combinations in the text:

При здоровых психических состояниях, психотравмирующие факторы, при невротических состояниях, постоянные одновременные процессы, сохранять нормальное равновесие, работоспособность, нарушать активность мозга.

Exercise 9. Make up sentences with the following words and word combinations:

Changing conditions, the work capacity, overexcitation, excitation and inhibition, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Exercise 10. Insert prepositions where necessary:

Children may be affected... a neurosis... any age, but it is most frequently observed... the ages of 2 and 4, 7 and 8, and... the period... puberty development due... a number... specific features... physical development during these stages... childhood. Different causes... neuroses are predominant... the different stages... childhood.

Exercise 11. Translate into English:

Тип высшей нервной деятельности у человека формируется под воздействием окружающей среды.

Дети более подвержены психоневротическим расстройствам, чем взрослые.

Выявление причин неврозов способствует их исцелению.

Дети могут быть поражены неврозом в любом возрасте.

После полученных результатов обследований невропатолог поставил диагноз: невроз навязчивых состояний и назначил соответствующее лечение.

Exercise 12. Explain why individuals are subject to neuroses.

Exercise 13. Explain the terms in English: inhibition, cortex, environment.

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