Neurasthenia praecox is a term used to describe a mental illness that was once commonly diagnosed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term is pronounced [nʊɹəsˈθiːniə pɹiːˈkɒks], with "neurasthenia" being pronounced as "new-ruh-stee-nee-uh" and "praecox" being pronounced as "pree-koks". The spelling of this word follows the standard phonetic rules of English, with "neurasthenia" being spelled based on the Greek word "neuron" meaning nerve, and "praecox" being derived from the Latin word meaning "premature".
Neurasthenia praecox is a term that was used in older psychiatric literature to describe a mental disorder characterized by chronic fatigue, emotional instability, and cognitive disturbances. The term was first introduced by German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin in the late 19th century and was later replaced by the modern concept of schizophrenia.
Neurasthenia praecox was believed to primarily affect young individuals, with onset during adolescence or early adulthood. Symptoms of the condition included extreme exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, impaired memory, irritability, and emotional instability. Individuals with this disorder often experienced a significant decline in their overall functioning and ability to carry out daily tasks.
The term "neurasthenia" itself refers to a generalized condition of nervous exhaustion, with symptoms such as weakness, headache, and disrupted sleep patterns. "Praecox" is a Latin word meaning "early," hence the term reflected the belief that this particular form of neurasthenia developed at an early age.
Although the term neurasthenia praecox is no longer used in contemporary psychiatric practice, it played a crucial role in the development of the understanding of mental illness. Ultimately, the concept was incorporated into the broader diagnostic category of schizophrenia, which encompassed a wider range of symptoms and experiences associated with psychosis.
Primary n., a form of nervous exhaustion appearing in the adolescent period.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.