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schizofrenia

schizophrenia

noun skee-dzoh-freh-NEE-ah Rare
Body & Health Health & Illness

Origin: Greek skhizein (to split) + phren (mind)

Usage Note

Schizofrenia is both the psychiatric diagnosis and a common metaphor for contradictory behaviour or policy: la schizofrenia del sistema fiscale (the contradictions of the tax system). The adjective is schizofrenico (schizophrenic); note the double meaning carries into informal use without clinical precision.

Examples

"La schizofrenia può essere trattata con farmaci appropriati."

Natural Translation

Schizophrenia can be treated with appropriate medication.

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