/ ˈmentəli; NAmE / adverb
connected with or happening in the mind :
mentally ill
The baby is very mentally alert.
Mentally, I began making a list of things I had to do.
••
SYNONYMS
mentally ill
insane ♦ neurotic ♦ psychotic ♦ disturbed ♦ unstable
These words all describe sb who is suffering from a mental illness.
mentally ill
suffering from an illness of the mind, especially in a way that affects the way you think and behave
insane
[not usually before noun] ( rather formal ) suffering from a serious mental illness and unable to live in normal society:
The question is, was the man insane when he committed the crime?
NOTE
In informal English insane can describe sb who is not suffering from a mental illness, but whose mind does not work normally, especially because they are under pressure. This meaning is used especially in the phrases go insane and drive sb insane .
neurotic
( medical ) suffering from or connected with neurosis (= a mental illness in which a person suffers strong feelings of fear and worry) :
the treatment of anxiety in neurotic patients
NOTE
In informal English neurotic is also used to describe sb who is not suffering from a mental illness, but is not behaving in a calm way because they are worried about sth:
She became neurotic about keeping the house clean.
psychotic
( medical ) suffering from or connected with psychosis (= a serious mental illness in which thought and emotions lose connection with external reality) .
NOTE
In informal English psychotic is sometimes used to describe anyone suffering from a mental illness, but in correct medical usage it only describes people who have difficulty relating to external reality. It contrasts with neurotic which describes people who are less seriously mentally ill and are still able to distinguish what is real from what is not.
disturbed
mentally ill, especially because of very unhappy or shocking experiences:
He works with emotionally disturbed children.
unstable
having emotions and behaviour that are likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
a(n) disturbed / unstable mind
neurotic / psychotic / disturbed / unstable behaviour
neurotic / psychotic illnesses / disorders / symptoms / patients
seriously mentally ill / neurotic / psychotic / disturbed / unstable
emotionally / mentally disturbed / unstable