1. Plural of neurasthenia; conditions of nervous exhaustion or weakness, historically characterized by fatigue, anxiety, and various physical symptoms attributed to overwork or stress.
Usage: archaic/medical; primarily historical; the diagnosis is rarely used in modern medicine

Examples

• In the 19th century, neurasthenias were commonly diagnosed in overworked professionals.
• Victorian physicians attributed many neurasthenias to the stresses of modern industrial life.
• The term neurasthenias has largely fallen out of use in contemporary psychiatry.
• Historical medical texts describe various neurasthenias affecting both men and women.
• Patients suffering from neurasthenias often reported chronic fatigue and emotional distress.