Neurasthenia in Young Women

Deale, Henry B.; Adams, Sydney

doi:10.1097/00000441-189404000-00020

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“…It was described as 'a disease of the nervous system, without organic lesion, which may attack any or all parts of the nervous system, and characterized by enfeeblement of the nervous force, which may have all degrees of severity...' [2]. There may be the following symptoms: inability to concentrate, impaired memory, depression, headaches, pain in the neck, shoulders, back and limbs, and tender spots on the spine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Validity of ICD-10 Neurasthenia

Bankier¹,

Aigner²,

Bach³

2001

Psychopathology

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Background: Neurasthenia was defined over a century ago. In view of a questionable clinical validity, it was omitted from the 3rd edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM, while it remains as an own diagnostic category in the WHO’s ICD-10. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to examine the clinical validity of ICD-10 neurasthenia in a consecutive sample of chronic pain patients. Patients and Methods: We included 193 patients (mean age 45.1, SD ± 10.2, 63% females) in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses were established by the use of ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research. In addition, the Screening List for Somatization Symptoms was administered: self-rating of 53 medically unexplained somatic symptoms, and 11 additional screening questions concerning weakness after slight mental or physical exertion and disease conviction. Results: Thirty-three percent of the patients who fulfilled the criteria of ICD-10 neurasthenia also fulfilled the criteria of ICD-10 somatization disorder, 69% the criteria of ICD-10 undifferentiated somatoform disorder, 14% the criteria of ICD-10 hypochondriacal disorder, 66% the criteria of ICD-10 somatoform autonomic dysfunction, 85% the criteria of ICD-10 persistent somatoform pain disorder and 14% the criteria for sexual dysfunction not caused by organic disorder or disease. The symptom profile of ICD-10 neurasthenia was not clearly distinguishable from the symptom profiles of ICD-10 somatoform disorders and ICD-10 sexual dysfunction. Discussion: Due to this substantial diagnostic overlap, the clinical validity of ICD-10 neurasthenia remains questionable.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%