1. relating to or characterized by psychasthenia; marked by obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, or anxiety without clear physical cause
Usage: dated or technical term, primarily used in older psychiatric literature

1. a person who suffers from psychasthenia
Usage: dated or technical term, primarily used in older psychiatric literature

Examples

• The psychasthenic patient experienced intrusive thoughts that interfered with daily functioning.
• Early 20th-century psychiatrists often diagnosed psychasthenic conditions in patients with persistent anxiety.
• Her psychasthenic symptoms included repetitive checking behaviors and constant worry.
• The psychasthenic individual struggled with compulsive rituals despite recognizing their irrationality.
• Modern psychology has largely replaced the term psychasthenic with more specific diagnostic categories.