dementia praecox

[ dih-men-shuh pree-koks ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. (no longer in technical use) schizophrenia.

dementia praecox

/ ˈpriːkɒks /

noun

1. a former name for schizophrenia

Word History and Origins

Origin of dementia praecox¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; from New Latin: “precocious dementia”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dementia praecox¹

C19: New Latin, literally: premature dementia

Example Sentences

The cause of her death, not revealed in the note or in her obituary in the Daily Press, was entered on her death certificate as “dementia praecox.”

From Literature

Aged 57, this man was diagnosed dementia praecox, paranoid, onset “more than 10 years ago.”

From The New Yorker

Their collection contains brain, heart, liver and spleen tissues from about 1,400 autopsies, 95 of which are labeled "dementia praecox," an antiquated diagnosis similar to schizophrenia.

From Scientific American

There is no doubt of its close relationship to dementia praecox.

From Project Gutenberg

There are cases of dementia praecox that only time can differentiate.

From Project Gutenberg