hebephrenia

[ hee-buh-free-nee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. a type of schizophrenia characterized by emotionless, incongruous, or silly behavior, intellectual deterioration, and hallucinations, frequently beginning insidiously during adolescence.

hebephrenia

/ ˌhiːbɪˈfriːnɪə; ˌhiːbɪˈfrɛnɪk /

noun

1. a form of pubertal schizophrenia, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, foolish behaviour, and senseless laughter

Derived Forms

• hebephrenic, adjective

Other Words From

• he·be·phren·ic [hee-b, uh, -, fren, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hebephrenia¹

1880–85; < Greek hēbē- ( hebetic ) + -phrenia

Word History and Origins

Origin of hebephrenia¹

C20: New Latin, from Greek hēbē youth + -phrenia mental disorder, from phrēn mind

Example Sentences

No; for when a young man begins to suffer from what the doctors call hebephrenia, the farther he draws away from such snares the nearer he gets to them.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us recall also the mental troubles, the psychoses designated by the name hebephrenia.

From Project Gutenberg

Here they show nothing characteristic of the well-known dementing processes, as hebephrenia, for example; but very frequently, although quite young, their entire manner and behavior suggest a certain dilapidation and deterioration.

From Project Gutenberg