definitions
  • synonyms

hebephrenia

[ hee-buh-free-nee-uh ]
/ ˌhi bəˈfri ni ə /
|

noun Psychiatry.

a type of schizophrenia characterized by emotionless, incongruous, or silly behavior, intellectual deterioration, and hallucinations, frequently beginning insidiously during adolescence.

Nearby words

hebdomadally, hebdomadary, hebdomal, hebe, hebei, hebephrenia, hebephrenic, heber, heber, reginald, heberden, heberden's nodes

Origin of hebephrenia

1880–85; < Greek hēbē- (see hebetic) + -phrenia
Related formshe·be·phren·ic [hee-buh-fren-ik] /ˌhi bəˈfrɛn ɪk/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hebephrenia

  • The subjects of hebephrenia are peculiarly liable to tubercular infection and many die of phthisis.

    Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various

  • Hebephrenia is always a disease of adolescence and never occurs during adult life.

    Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for hebephrenia

hebephrenia

/ (ˌhiːbɪˈfriːnɪə) /

noun

a form of pubertal schizophrenia, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, foolish behaviour, and senseless laughter
Derived Formshebephrenic (ˌhiːbɪˈfrɛnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for hebephrenia

C20: New Latin, from Greek hēbē youth + -phrenia mental disorder, from phrēn mind
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

Word Origin and History for hebephrenia

hebephrenia

n.

"adolescent insanity," 1886, coined in Modern Latin by German psychiatrist Ewald Escker in 1871, from Greek hebe "youth" (see Hebe (1)) + phrene "mind" (see phreno-).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for hebephrenia

hebephrenia

[ hē′bə-frē′nē-ə, -frĕn′ē-ə ]

n.

A schizophrenia, usually starting at puberty, characterized by foolish mannerisms, senseless laughter, delusions, hallucinations, and regressive behavior.disorganized schizophrenia hebephrenic schizophrenia
Related formshe′be•phren′ic (-frĕn′ĭk, -frē′nĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.