psychosis

American  

[sahy-koh-sis] / saɪˈkoʊ sɪs /

noun

Psychiatry.

plural

psychoses

1. a mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality.

2. any severe form of mental disorder, as schizophrenia or paranoia.

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psychosis British  

/ saɪˈkəʊsɪs /

noun

1. any form of severe mental disorder in which the individual's contact with reality becomes highly distorted Compare neurosis

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psychosis Scientific  

/ sī-kō′sĭs /

plural

psychoses

1. A mental state caused by psychiatric or organic illness, characterized by a loss of contact with reality and an inability to think rationally. A psychotic person often behaves inappropriately and is incapable of normal social functioning.

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psychosis Cultural  

1. A severe mental disorder, more serious than neurosis, characterized by disorganized thought processes, disorientation in time and space, hallucinations, and delusions. Paranoia, manic depression, megalomania, and schizophrenia are all psychoses. One who suffers from psychosis is psychotic.

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Etymology

Origin of psychosis

First recorded in 1840–50, psychosis is from the Late Greek word psȳ́chōsis animation, principle of life. See psych-, -osis

Compare meaning

How does psychosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• neurosis vs. psychosis

Example Sentences

Once back home, his community crisis team twice asked for Chris to have early intervention for psychosis treatment, the best and quickest option available, but this was denied.

From BBC

That is according to Margaret Gibney, a carer for someone who is living with psychosis and is struggling to access the right treatment.

From BBC

The company said in October that hundreds of thousands of ChatGPT users each week exhibit possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although telomeres naturally shorten with age, the process appears to happen faster in people with major psychiatric conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, the researchers note.

From Science Daily

And the company is now running three studies for Cobenfy in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, two of which need to be positive for it to pursue FDA approval.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• absurdity
• alienation
• craziness
• folly
• frenzy
• hysteria
• irresponsibility
• lunacy
• madness
• mental disorder