schizophrenia

UK/skɪtsə(ʊ)ˈfɹiːniə/US/ˌskɪtsəˈfɹiniə/

nounB2+Common in everyday speech and writing · #7,269 of 15,258leans written

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that distorts thought and perception. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, treat schizophrenia, living with schizophrenia.

It is not a split personality, whatever the name suggests and however often the word is misused that way. It affects about one person in a hundred, usually begins in early adulthood, and is treated with medication and support, with many people living well.

Definitions of schizophrenia

1nounschizophreniaA severe mental illness that distorts thought and perception.B2+
“With the right medicine, many people with schizophrenia live full and independent lives.”

schizophrenia is an illness.

Where it comes from

Coined in German in 1908 by Eugen Bleuler from Greek schizein, to split, plus phren, the mind.

Proto-Indo-European
*skeyd-
German
Schizophrenie
English, today
schizophrenia

From German Schizophrenie (coined by Eugen Bleuler), from Ancient Greek - σχίζω + φρήν + -ia. A combination of schizo- + -phrenia.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

schizophrenia in the wild

Catatonia has historically been related to schizophrenia, but is most often seen in mood disorders.
Catatonia
The causes of schizophrenia may include genetic and environmental factors.
Schizophrenia
In 2015, an estimated 17,000 deaths were linked to schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia
Childhood schizophrenia (very early onset schizophrenia) develops before the age of 13 years and is quite rare.
Risk factors of schizophrenia
Smoking is known to harm the health of people with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia and tobacco smoking

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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