A form of schizophrenia characterized by severe disintegration of personality including erratic speech and childish mannerisms and bizarre behavior

• Usually becomes evident during puberty
• The most common diagnostic category in mental institutions

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"adolescent insanity," 1886, coined in Modern Latin by German psychiatrist Ewald Escker in 1871, from Greek hebe "youth" (see Hebe (1)) + phrene "mind" (see phreno- ) + abstract noun ending -ia .

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete English) A type of mental disorder occurring during puberty. 2 (context clinical psychology English) A form of schizophrenia characterised by inappropriate behaviour and emotional responses.

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a form of schizophrenia characterized by severe disintegration of personality including erratic speech and childish mannerisms and bizarre behavior; usually becomes evident during puberty; the most common diagnostic category in mental institutions [syn: ...