dementia praecox

American

[dih-men-shuh pree-koks] / dɪˈmɛn ʃə ˈpri kɒks /

noun

Psychiatry.

(no longer in technical use) schizophrenia.

dementia praecox British

/ ˈpriːkɒks /

noun

a former name for schizophrenia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dementia praecox

First recorded in 1895–1900; from New Latin: “precocious dementia”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For instance: "The newer methods of diagnosis of Dementia praecox we look forward to for help in one place where discrimination is important."

From The Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Volume 10 by Various

If Dementia praecox postulated criminality, the situation might be different, but, as it stands, the reaction would only be of value in the doubtful cases— cases which are so many of them non-institutional.

From The Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Volume 10 by Various

On the other hand, in introducing the Dementia praecox group, he makes no specific mention of any one of the cardinal symptoms of disassociation or shallowness of affect, scattering of thought, and delusions or hallucinations.

From The Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Volume 10 by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023