HealthJuly 4, 2026

schizophrenia

/ˌskɪtsəˈfriːniə/

Definition

A chronic and severe mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often causing them to lose touch with reality.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek words 'schizein' meaning 'to split' and 'phren' meaning 'mind' or 'midriff.' It was coined in 1910 by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler to describe the fragmentation of mental processes associated with the condition.

In the news

In the article, the author lists schizophrenia as a primary example of the psychotic disorders treated by the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program. It is mentioned to identify the specific population of patients who benefit from community-based care rather than traditional institutional settings.

UNM Health’s ACT and FACT Teams Bring Community-Centered Care to Patients with Severe Mental Illness

Read the full article ↗

UNM HSC Newsroom

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