Crossword Genius

Mentally ill - needs a change of routine before cure starts (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

neurotic

'mentally ill' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'a change of routine before cure starts' is the wordplay.
'a change of' indicates an anagram (the letter order is changed).
'before' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'starts' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'cure' is 'c'.
'routine' anagrammed gives 'neuroti'.
'neuroti'+'c'='NEUROTIC'

'needs' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for neurotic that I've seen before include "Subject to excessive anxieties and abnormal behaviour" , "Very nervy" , "Subject to excessive anxiety and behaviour" , "Paranoid" , "Abnormally obsessive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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