schizophrenia

American  

[skit-suh-free-nee-uh, -freen-yuh] / ˌskɪt səˈfri ni ə, -ˈfrin yə /

noun

1. Formerly dementia praecox.  Psychiatry. a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by emotional blunting, intellectual deterioration, social isolation, disorganized speech and behavior, delusions, hallucinations, or a combination of any of these symptoms.

2. Sometimes Offensive. a state characterized by the coexistence of contradictory or incompatible elements.

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schizophrenia British  

/ ˌskɪtsəʊˈfriːnɪə /

noun

1. any of a group of psychotic disorders characterized by progressive deterioration of the personality, withdrawal from reality, hallucinations, delusions, social apathy, emotional instability, etc See catatonia hebephrenia paranoia

2. informal behaviour that appears to be motivated by contradictory or conflicting principles

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schizophrenia Scientific  

/ skĭt′sə-frē′nē-ə,skĭt′sə- /

1. Any of a group of psychiatric disorders characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, hallucinations, and psychotic behavior. Schizophrenia is associated with an imbalance of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain and may have an underlying genetic cause.

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schizophrenia Cultural  

1. A form of psychosis marked by a strong tendency to dissociate oneself from reality. Schizophrenia is often characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and inappropriate reactions to situations. The word schizophrenia is often used informally as well as scientifically to indicate a split personality.

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Other Word Forms

• nonschizophrenic adjective
• schizophrenic adjective
• unschizophrenic adjective

Etymology

Origin of schizophrenia

First recorded in 1910–15; schizo- + -phrenia

Compare meaning

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

• schizoid vs. schizophrenia

Example Sentences

Understanding the biological basis of subjective experience may help researchers develop better therapies for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia by narrowing the gap between animal studies and human emotional experience.

From Science Daily

Published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin, the study also points toward a possible path for identifying biological markers of schizophrenia.

From Science Daily

The discovery may lead to new treatments for psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and schizophrenia, as well as a neurological disorder that affects movement and balance.

From Science Daily

For many years, schizophrenia has been viewed primarily as a condition caused by excessive synapse loss.

From Science Daily

"The findings may provide new insights into psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, where the sense of self is disturbed."

From Science Daily