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[[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. p.]: 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.

For example, in the [[case ]] of one of [[Freud]]'s [[obsessional neurotic]] [[patient]]s, whom [[Freud]] nicknamed the [[Rat Man]], the [[patient]] had developed elaborate rituals which he performed to war off the [[fear]] of a terrible [[punishment ]] being inflicted on his [[father]] or on his [[beloved]].<ref>[[Freud|Freud, Sigmund]]. "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|Notes Upon a Case of Obsessional Neurosis]]," 1909d.[[SE]] X, 155</ref>

These rituals, both in their [[form ]] and [[content]], led [[Freud]] to draw parallels between the [[structure]] of [[obsessional neurosis]] and the [[structure]] of [[religion]], parallels which [[Lacan]] also [[notes]].

Whereas the [[hysterical]] question concerns the [[subject]]'s [[sexual position]] ("Am I a [[man]] or a [[woman]]?"), the [[obsessional neurotic]] repudiates this question, refusing both [[sexes]], calling himself neither [[male]] nor [[female]]:

[[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>