Conceptual Structure in Thought-Disordered Schizophrenics

Abstract

“Thought-disorder” in schizophrenia was initially a psychiatric concept derived from clinical observation. As crystallized in standard psychiatric authorities, say Mayer-Gross, Slater and Roth (1954) the primary features of the talk (and inferentially the thinking) of thought-disordered schizophrenic patients are: (i)Inconsequential following of side issues.(ii)Tendencies for the thought to be directed by alliterations, analogies, clang associations, associations with accidents of the speaker's environment, symbolic meanings, and the condensation of several (perhaps mutually contradictory) ideas into one.(iii)Words used out of context, e.g. concrete meanings taken where abstract meanings would be appropriate.(iv)Clinging to unimportant detail.(v)The use of laconic answers, e.g. I don't know, maybe, perhaps—indicative of emptiness and vagueness of ideas.(vi)Thought is generally marked by gaps, poverty, indefiniteness and vagueness.(vii)Indications of thought-blocking.(viii)Indications of pressure of thoughts.