Doc_B's definitions

Schizophrenia

A severe and chronic mental disorder characterised by many serious psychological symptoms, not least psychosis (delusions, hallucinations, paranoia), fragmented thought processes, grossly disorganised speech and behaviour and social withdrawal.

He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia upon being sectioned under the mental health act.

by Doc_B April 13, 2015

Bipolar disorder

Also known as manic depression (dated), bipolar affective disorder is a severe, debilitating psychiatric illness characterised by alternating periods of elevated mood and energy levels (mania or, if milder, hypomania) and lowered mood and energy levels (depression). It runs on a continuum from subsyndrominal to extremely severe but is generally regarded as one of the more serious mental illnesses, esp. in its classic form (type I). During severe manic or depressive episodes (particularly the former), psychosis may emerge, often making it indistinguishable to schizophrenia. Often trivialised in popular culture and trivialised as "just mood swings", it is, in actual fact, one of the most severe psychological conditions and hell on Earth for those who genuinely suffer from this devastating disease, as well as for those around them.

Bipolar disorder is a cruel affliction.

by Doc_B April 13, 2015

Insanity

The state of suffering a severe psychiatric disease which causes extremely abnormal behaviour or loss of touch with reality (psychosis), most commonly associated with schizophrenia and bipolar illness (the manic phase).

King George suffered from bouts of insanity.

by Doc_B April 13, 2015