[Causes and conditions for the development of protracted neuroses].

The follow-up findings were studied in 102 patients with long-standing (2-17 years) neuroses (neurasthenia, 49 cases, hysterical neurosis, 53 cases) and compared with those in 40 patients with acute forms of these diseases. The results of the study point out to factors predisposing to an unfavourable course of the illness. Ii is noted that in most cases, protracted neuroses develop in individuals with definite personality characteristics and numerous variants of "biological insufficiency", such as aggravated heredity, frequent colds in childhood, attendant somatic pathology, etc. Some risk factors have been emphasized including a prolonged influence of psychotraumatic circumstances on these patients, their late application for help to the psychiatrist and late initiation of the adequate treatment.