psychose

psychosis

noun psee-KOZ Rare

Origin: Greek psykhe (mind) + -osis (condition)

Usage Note

Psychose is the medical term for a severe mental disorder characterised by a break with reality, such as psychose paranoïaque (paranoid psychosis). In everyday informal French it has extended to mean a general collective panic or obsession: la psychose du terrorisme ('terror psychosis', i.e. mass paranoia about terrorism). The related adjective psychotique and noun psychotique (a person with psychosis) are used in clinical contexts.

Examples

"La psychose peut provoquer des hallucinations."

Natural Translation

Psychosis can cause hallucinations.

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