schizophrenia

     

Schizophrenia (pronounce /ˌskɪtsəˈfriːniə/), from the Greek roots schizein (σχίζειν, "to split") and phrēn, phren- (φρήν, φρεν-, "mind"), is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental illness characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality, most commonly manifesting as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions or disorganized speech and thinking in the context of significant social or occupational dysfunction. Onset of symptoms typically occurs in young adulthood, with approximately 0.4–0.6% of the population affected. Diagnosis is based on the patient's self-reported experiences and observed behavior. No laboratory test for schizophrenia currently exists.

Trivia about schizophrenia

  • From the Greek for "split mind", this mental disorder is not, as many believe, the same as a split personality
  • 1-word name of the brain disease marked by delusions that's the largest cause of admission to mental hospitals
  • (Hi, I'm Kimberlin Brown, not a real psychiatrist, but I play one on TV.) Symptoms of this mental illness, from the Greek for "split mind", include madness, not multiple personalities
  • Formerly dementia praecox, this term does not mean a patient has more than one personality
  • From the Greek for "split mind", this mental illness often interferes with a person's ability to manage emotions