The apparition of the concept of “nervous alteration” in the XVII century, offers to psychiatry the possibility of a better and more solid development. Based on the Linneus idea of discrimination, description and classifications, nosologist constructed several ordenations of patology. One of them, W. Cullen, using the nosologic method created the term “neurosis” to clarify these ideas in order to nervous alterations.
History of psichiatry; nosology; neurosis