psykoosia

Psykoosia is a term that has appeared in some discussions and works of fiction to describe a particular kind of psychological state. It is not an officially recognized diagnosis in modern psychiatry. The word is a neologism formed from the prefix psycho- (mind) and the suffix -osia, echoing medical terms such as psychosis but not aligned with established criteria. In contexts where it is used, psykoosia can denote experiences such as dissociation, perceptual alteration, and inner subjective reality becoming dominant over external perception. It may also entail a sense of detachment from surroundings, intensified internal thoughts or feelings, and instability in sense of self. However, because there is no standardized clinical definition, its meaning can vary between authors.

Some creators use psykoosia to explore themes like reality versus illusion, identity fragmentation, or the boundary between normal consciousness and pathological states, without claiming to diagnose real patients. In discussions outside fiction, the term is sometimes described as a fictional or speculative condition rather than a medical one.

In relation to established terms, psykoosia is distinct from psychosis, which in clinical usage refers to a mental state characterized by impaired contact with reality, often including delusions and hallucinations, typically assessed against diagnostic criteria. Related concepts include derealization and depersonalization, altered states of consciousness, and psychotic-like experiences.