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mental disease

mental disease

5 4.1
A serious problem that affects a person's mind and feelings and may need medical help
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛntəl dɪˈziːz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : enfermedad mental
  • Since the middle of the century, heredity had been gaining ground as an explanation for the etiology of mental disease.

And, and he also had a deep sensitivity to mental disease.

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Examples

  • Similarly, individuals are considered legally insane under criminal law if they suffer from a mental disease or defect that prevents them from understanding that their actions are wrong.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Many people with a mental disease seek help from professionals to manage their symptoms.

  • The frequency of known mental diseases in this group is at twice the rate of the national average.

    Blog text (2)
  • Early detection and intervention are crucial with cancer and mental disease.

    Blog text (8)
  • If you are depressed, on any meds for depression, or have any type of mental disease, consult your doctor before reading this material.

    Blog text (11)
  • Doctor, in your opinion, concerning the work you did on this case, do you believe Mr. Fleck suffers from a mental disease or defect?

  • For the biopsychiatrist, mental diseases are bona fide diseases.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Typically, state law provides that a person isn't guilty by reason of insanity if, because of mental disease or defect, she or he didn't understand the criminality of her or his conduct and that the act was wrong.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Under U.S. federal law, an insanity defense requires that "at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts."

    Academic text (2012)
  • Medicare is the nation's largest health insurance program and covers nearly 40 million Americans aged 65 years and older and persons with eligible disabilities (e.g., persons with a debilitating physical or mental disease or end-stage renal disease).

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

disorder
vsmental disease
  • Specialized
449 4.3

A health condition in which the body or mind do not work normally

is specifically a severe mind condition often needing psychiatric treatment
mental illness
vsmental disease
129 3.1

A health problem that affects how a person thinks, feels, or behaves and may need medical help

is a more severe condition likely to require psychiatric treatment
mental disorder
vsmental disease
  • Specialized
20 3.3

A condition that causes problems with thinking, feeling, or behaving

is more serious and likely to require psychiatric treatment
psychological disorder
vsmental disease
  • Specialized
3 4.6

A condition that changes a person's thoughts, feelings, or behavior and causes problems in life

is framed as a medical condition needing psychiatric care when severe
mental disturbance
vsmental disease
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A problem in a person's mind that affects thinking or feeling

is considered more serious and often needs psychiatric treatment

Antonyms

186 3.3

A person's thoughts, feelings and how they handle problems

A calm mind that keeps emotions steady and shows good judgment

How Severe

mental disease
  • Specialized
5 4.1
mental disorder
  • Specialized
20 3.3
mental disturbance
  • Specialized
1 6.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

mental + disease

The meaning 'a disorder affecting the mind' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'mental' (relating to the mind) with 'disease' (a harmful condition). This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows ordinary adjective + noun semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Mental disease shows a simple image: mental means the 'mind' and disease means an 'illness'. So it means the mind is sick and is used for a serious disorder that affects thoughts, feelings, or behavior.