How Do You Spell CHOREIC INSANITY?

1. Choreic insanity is a dated and relatively rare term used in psychiatry to describe a specific psychiatric condition characterized by a combination of abnormal and involuntary movements, known as chorea, along with various psychological disturbances or insanity. The term "choreic" is derived from the Greek word "khoros," meaning "dance," which aptly reflects the jerky and irregular movements often seen in individuals affected by this condition.

   In choreic insanity, the primary symptom is chorea, which manifests as uncontrollable and irregular movements of the limbs, face, or other parts of the body. These movements are usually abrupt, purposeless, and appear to flow from one muscle group to another. Additionally, individuals with choreic insanity may experience a range of psychological and cognitive impairments, including depression, anxiety, hallucinations, delusions, memory problems, and disorientation.

   The underlying cause of choreic insanity is usually attributed to certain neurological disorders, such as Huntington's disease, a genetic condition that progressively damages specific areas of the brain responsible for movement control and cognitive functioning. This association with Huntington's disease is particularly strong, as chorea is one of its characteristic symptoms. However, choreic insanity can also be observed in other conditions affecting the nervous system, such as Sydenham's chorea or other forms of encephalitis.

   Due to advancements in psychiatric and neurological understanding, the term "choreic insanity" is now less commonly used, and the specific symptoms and underlying conditions are typically diagnosed and treated individually.

2. An infectious psychosis sometimes associated with chorea, which usually assumes a confusional form.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CHOREIC INSANITY

The term "choreic insanity" is derived from combining two words: "choreic" and "insanity".

1. Choreic: The term choreic comes from the medical condition called chorea or St. Vitus' dance. Chorea is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, jerky, and dance-like movements of the limbs and facial muscles. The word "chorea" itself originates from the Greek word "choros", meaning dance.

2. Insanity: The term "insanity" refers to a state of mental illness or madness. It is derived from the Latin word "insanitas", which combines "in-" (not) and "sanus" (healthy or sound).

As such, "choreic insanity" refers to a condition where a person experiences both the characteristic movement disorder of chorea and accompanying mental symptoms associated with insanity.

Plural form of CHOREIC INSANITY is CHOREIC INSANITIES