Abnormalities of Thought Form

10 Questions

What is the primary characteristic of delusions?

A false fixed belief not corrected by reasoning

Which of the following is an example of an abnormality of form of thinking?

Neither of the above

What is the main difference between delusions and overvalued ideas?

The text does not provide enough information to determine the difference

Which of the following is not an example of an abnormality of content of thinking?

A logical conclusion based on evidence

What is the term for a recurring, intrusive thought or image that is distressing to the individual?

Obsession

In which psychological condition are memory flashbacks commonly seen?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

What is the term for a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object or situation?

Phobia

What is the term for a recurring, negative thought pattern that is distressing to the individual?

Depressive rumination

Which of the following is an example of an abnormality of content of thinking that is characterized by a false sense of danger or threat?

Anxious apprehension

What is the primary distinction between abnormalities of form of thinking and abnormalities of content of thinking?

Abnormalities of form of thinking are related to the process of thinking, while abnormalities of content of thinking are related to the thoughts themselves

Study Notes

Abnormalities of Form of Thought

Formal Thought Disorders (FTD) or disorganized speech can be assessed by evaluating the thought process, specifically goal-directedness.

Goal-Directedness Abnormalities

Circumstantiality: overinclusion of unnecessary details, with a sequential connection, eventually returning to the original subject or question.
Tangentiality: failure to return to the original point, with irrelevant and insignificantly related thoughts.

Abnormalities of Association

Loosening of association: difficulty seeing connections between thoughts.
Incoherence (word salad, schizophasia): extreme loss of association.
Clang associations: associations based on alliteration, rhyming, or assonance.
Punning: associations based on double meanings.

Idiosyncratic Language Use

Neologism: private symbolism in language use.
Cryptolalia: the use of obscure or private language.

Repetition Abnormalities

Stereotypy (vocal and verbal): repetitive or ritualistic utterances.
Verbigeration: repetition of stereotyped phrases.
Perseveration: repetition of words or phrases despite stimulus absence or cessation.
Echolalia: repetition of words spoken by others.
Palilalia (auto-echolalia): repetition of one's own words.
Logoclonia: repetition of a word's last syllable.
Coprolalia: repetition of obscene language.

Abnormalities of Flow of Thought

Flight of ideas: rapid speech, frequent topic shifts, commonly seen in manic patients.

Abnormalities of Content of Thought

Delusions: false, fixed beliefs not corrected by reasoning, not shared by others.
Obsessions
Phobias
Overvalued ideas
Anxious apprehension
Depressive rumination
Memory flashbacks (in PTSD)
Preoccupations