Psychogenic
Pronunciation: sy-koh-JEN-ik
Originating from psychological rather than organic or physiological causes; used to classify symptoms or conditions whose aetiology is rooted in mental or emotional processes.
Full Definition
The term 'psychogenic' is used in clinical mental health documents to indicate that a symptom—such as non-epileptic seizure, pain, or paralysis—arises from psychological mechanisms rather than identifiable neurological or physiological pathology. Editors must handle this term carefully because it carries potential stigma and may be contested in medico-legal documents. Modern style increasingly favours 'functional' as a less stigmatising descriptor (e.g., 'functional neurological symptom disorder'). In editorial work, 'psychogenic' should be preserved when it reflects the author's precise clinical intent but flagged when used in patient-facing documents where 'functional' may be preferred. The term should never be conflated with 'fictitious' or 'malingering,' which imply deliberate deception.
Usage
Usage note: Do not substitute 'psychogenic' for 'factitious' or 'malingering'; the former implies unconscious psychological origin, while the latter two imply conscious fabrication. Flag for author review in patient-facing documents and suggest 'functional' as a less stigmatising alternative.
In Context
- "The neurology consult note described episodes of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, a term the editor preserved pending author confirmation." — Neurology–psychiatry liaison consult note
- "Editors should query 'psychogenic' in any patient-facing brochure and propose 'functional' as the preferred contemporary alternative." — Patient education material