Psychosis, schizophrenia


The most chronic and disabling of the major mental illnesses. Schizophrenia may be one disorder, or it may be many disorders, with different causes. Because of the disorder’s complexity, few generalizations hold true for all people who are diagnosed as schizophrenic.

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  • Psychosomatic

    Relating to both the mind and the body or to the mind-body interrelationships. From the Greek words psych(emacr) meaning the organ of thought and judgment and somatikos meaning the body.

  • Psychosomatic illness

    A situation in which the mind influences the body to create or complicate an illness.

  • Psychotherapy

    The treatment of a behavior disorders, mental illness, or any other condition by psychological means. Psychotherapy may utilize insight, persuasion, suggestion, reassurance, and instruction so that patients may see themselves and their problems more realistically and have the desire to cope effectively with them. There are many possible definitions of psychotherapy, just as there are […]

  • Psychotropic drug

    Any drug capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior. Some legal drugs, such as lithium for bipolar disorder, are psychotropic. Many illicit drugs, such as cocaine, are also psychotropic. Also known as psychodynamic drug.

  • Psychotropic medication

    Any medication capable of affecting the mind, emotions, and behavior. Some medications such as lithium, which may be used to treat depression, are psychotropic. Also called a psychodynamic medication. From the Greek psycho-, the mind + trop, a turning = (capable of) turning the mind.


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