A retrospective review of Chinese translated name of schizophrenia

Subjects: Psychology >> Medical Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> Clinical and Counseling Psychology Subjects: Psychology >> History of Psychology submitted time 2019-10-20

陈建 蒋健昌 袁杰

Abstract： Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to feel, think, and behave clearly. Since 1935, schizophrenia was translated into Chinese as Jing Shen Fen Lie Zheng, which literally explained as “mind splitting disease”. However, such a translation fails to reflect the truth of this mental disorder, and it has evident stigma. It is argued in this article that a new Chinese name is required for Schizophrenia in mainland China. In fact, in recent years, some countries and regions have already changed the translation name for schizophrenia. For instance, Japan has changed the name from “Seishin-Bunretsu-Byo” (Mind-split-disease) to “Togo-Shitcho-Sho” (Integration disorder); South Korea has changed the name from “Jeongshin-bunyeol-byung”(Mind-split-disorder) to “Johyun-byung” (attunement disorder). In Hong Kong and Taiwan, this name has been changed from “Jing Shen Fen Lie Zheng”to “Si Jue Shi Tiao Zheng” (dysfunction of thought and perception). Studies have demonstrated that such a change brought many benefits. It is suggested that the psychiatrists in the mainland China can learn from others’ experiences and promote the name change of schizophrenia. It is argued in this article that the name of “Si Jue Shi Tiao Zheng” is a proper option.

Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review

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