schizophrenic reaction

a former diagnosis for the symptoms of schizophrenia. Coined around 1911 by Adolf Meyer, the term signified a cluster of maladaptive disturbances that he believed developed in reaction to psychosocial stressors. His views were an argument against the concept, originally advanced under the name of demential praecox by Emil Kraepelin, that characterized schizophrenia as a disease entity with purely biological causes. Schizophrenic reaction was one of several reaction types in Meyer’s nomencature of mental illness.

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Psychology term of the day

November 27th 2024

cacoethes

n. an irresistible, and sometimes irrational, desire or compulsion.