Definition

Noun: 1. A person suffering from a severe mental disorder, especially one who behaves in a wildly irrational or uncontrolled manner. This term is an informal, dated, and often offensive label for someone experiencing a serious psychological condition. Its use is strongly discouraged in modern, respectful discourse. * The sensationalized newspaper headline referred to the disturbed individual as a "mental case." * Using a term like "mental case" stigmatizes people with mental health conditions.

Usage Notes

• Register & Connotation: This term is highly informal, pejorative, and offensive. It is considered dehumanizing and stigmatizing. It should be avoided in clinical, professional, and polite contexts.
• Modern Alternatives: Contemporary language favors person-first or neutral, clinical terminology that respects the individual, such as "a person with a mental health condition," "a patient," or specific diagnoses like "a person experiencing psychosis."

Examples in Context

• Historical/Offensive Use:
  • In old films, a character acting strangely might be dismissively called a mental case.
  • That derogatory term, mental case, is no longer acceptable in medical or social discussions.

Advanced / Figurative Usage

• Hyperbolic Informal Use (Still Offensive): In very casual, crude speech, it is sometimes used hyperbolically to describe someone acting in a wildly irrational or foolish way.
  • "He's driving like a complete mental case!" (This usage is offensive and should be avoided.)

Variants and Related Words

• Neurotic (adj/n): Relating to or suffering from neurosis; a person affected by neurosis. (Clinical, but can be used pejoratively informally).
• Psychotic (adj/n): Relating to or suffering from psychosis; a person affected by psychosis. (Clinical term).
• Mentally ill person / Individual with a mental illness: Preferred, person-first modern phrasing.

Synonyms

• Madman/Madwoman (archaic/offensive)
• Lunatic (archaic/offensive)
• Psycho (slang, highly offensive)

Important Note on Antonyms

There is no direct antonym for this pejorative noun. Contrasting concepts would be: * A mentally well person. * A person of sound mind.

Idioms / Fixed Phrases

• To be a basket case: (Idiom, informal, offensive) To be unable to function normally due to extreme emotional stress or mental exhaustion.
  • After the exams, I was a complete basket case. (Note: This idiom is also considered insensitive.)

Noun

1. a person suffering from neurosis