Changes

[[Obsessional neurosis]] was first developed as a diagnostic category by [[Sigmund Freud]] in 1894.  In doing so, [[Freud]] grouped together as one condition a series of [[symptom]]s which had been described long before but which had been linked with a variety of different diagnostic categories.<ref>Laplanche, Jean and Pontalis, Jean-Bertrand. ''The Language of Psycho-Analysis'', trans. Donald Nicholson-Smith, London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1973 [1967]: 281-2</ref>  These [[symptom]]s include obsessions (recurrent ideas), impulses to perform actions which seem absurd and/or abhorrent to the [[subject]], and "rituals" (compulsively repeated actions such as checking or washing).

While [[Lacan]] also sees these [[symptom]]s as typical of [[obsessional neurosis]], he argues that [[obsessional neurosis]] designates not a set of [[symptom]]s but an underlying [[structure]] which may or may not manifest itself in the [[symptom]]s typically associated with it.  Thus the [[subject]] may well exhibit none of the typical obsessional [[symptom]]s and yet still be diagnosed as an [[obsessional neurotic]] by a [[Lacan]]ian [[analyst]].

In 1956, [[Lacan]] develops the idea that, like [[hysteria]], [[obsessional neurosis]] is essentially a question which [[being]] poses for the [[subject]].<ref>{{S3}} ppp.179-80</ref>  The question which constitutes [[obsessional neurosis]] concerns the contingency of one's [[existence]] (which also testifies to the special burden of [[guilt]] felt by the [[obsessional]]); the [[obsessional]] performs some compulsive ritual because he thinks that this will enable him to escape the [[lack]] in the [[Other]], the [[castration]] of the [[Other]], which is often represented in [[fantasy]] as some terrible disaster.

[[Lacan]] also draws attention to the way that the [[obsessional neurotic]]'s question about [[existence]] and [[death]] has consequences for his attitude to [[time]].  This attitude can be one of perpetual hesitation and procrastination while waiting for [[death]],<ref>{{E}} p. 99</ref> or of considering oneself immortal because one is already [[dead]].<ref>{{S3}} p. 180</ref>

Other features of [[obsessional neurosis]] which [[Lacan]] comments on are the sense of [[guilt]], and the close connection with anal eroticism.  In respect of the latter, [[Lacan]] remarks that the [[Obsessional neurosis|obsessional neurotic]] does not only transform his shit into gifts and his gifts into shit, but also transforms himself into shit.<ref>{{S8}} p. 243</ref>