Thought Processes (PDF)

Thought Thought Process (Form of Thought) Word usage/ language Neologisms are self-invented words or phrases that are most often seen in schizophrenia. Word salad is a group of words that are put together randomly with out any logical connection. poverty of speech the pa...

Thought Thought Process (Form of Thought) Word usage/ language Neologisms are self-invented words or phrases that are most often seen in schizophrenia. Word salad is a group of words that are put together randomly with out any logical connection. poverty of speech the patient utters only a few words or syllables, in poverty of content of speech the patient’s words are sufficient and individual sentences may even make sense, but the total communication remains meaningless.  Incoherent or incomprehensible speech is often referred to as verbigeration and word salad. Stream of thought Refers to the production and quantity of thoughts (e.g., overabundant, slowed). Interruption of a train of speech before a thought has been completed is called “thought blocking.” Flight of ideas (the ideas are associated but rapidly generated)  Looseness of associations: Thinking is characterized by speech in which ideas shift from one unrelated subject to another, the individual is unaware that the topics are unconnected. Tangentiality: is the person never really gets to the point of the communication. Unrelated topics are introduced, and the focus of the original discussion is lost. Circumstantiality is the individual delays in reaching the point of a communication because of unnecessary and tedious details. The point or goal is usually met but only with numerous interruptions by the interviewer to keep the person on track of the topic being discussed.  Clanging association is choice of words is governed by sounds. Often take the form of rhyming. Echolalia is a meaningless, persistent, verbal, repetition of words or sounds heard by the patient Perseveration is repeats the same word or idea in response to different questions. Mutism is an individual’s inability or refusal to speak.  Thought Content Illogical thinking involves conclusions that contain clear, internal contradictions or are blatantly erroneous given the initial premises. Magical thinking is the person believes that his or her thoughts or behaviors have control over specific situations or people  Obsessions are unwanted and uncomfortable ideas, thoughts, images, or impulses that persistently invade one’s consciousness. Compulsions are repeated, stereotyped, overtly senseless actions or rituals, which are performed to prevent anxiety. Compulsions are obsessions expressed in behavior. Obsessions are thoughts, compulsions are deeds.  Relationship to Reality Psychosis is a mental state in which the person is unable to distinguish reality from fantasy. Overvalued ideas are unreasonable and persistent beliefs, held with less delusional intensity, which are not generally held in the patient’s subculture. Paranoia is not a symptom but a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur and persecution, suspiciousness, jealousy, and resentment.  Delusions are false personal beliefs that are inconsistent with the person’s intelligence or cultural background. The individual continues to have the belief in spite of obvious proof that it is false or irrational. Delusion of reference: All events within the environment are referred by the psychotic person to him or herself Ideas of reference are less rigid than delusions of reference. An example of an idea of reference is irrationally assuming that, when in the presence of others, one is the object of their discussion or ridicule.  Delusion of control or influence: The individual believes certain objects or persons have control over his or her behavior Grandiose delusions: The individual has an exaggerated feeling of importance, power, knowledge, or identity  Jealouse delusions involve suspicions about a or about one’s sex partner being unfaithful. Nihilistic delusion: The individual has a false idea that the self, a part of the self, others, or the world is nonexistent Somatic delusion: The individual has a false idea about the functioning of his or her body Persecutory delusions: The individual feels threatened and believes that others intend to harm or persecute him or her in some way Religiosity is an excessive demonstration of or obsession with religious ideas and behavior.  Thought broadcasting is the belief that one’s inner thoughts are no longer private, have escaped from one’s mind, and have become known to everyone. Thought insertions are ego-alien convictions that thoughts have been placed into one’s mind, with the person believing his thoughts are not his own. Thought withdrawal is a patient’s ego-dystonic belief that thoughts are being taken, or stolen from her mind or brain, and that she has fewer thoughts than before.  Concept Formation (Abstractibility) A patients behavior during the interview usually provides enough data to determine the ability to abstract. The ability to abstract - to think symbolically, to generalize, and to conceptualize is frequently absent with a functioning IQ under 90 or with schizophrenia.(concrete thinking)  Intelligence and Information: Includes examining the patient’s general fund of information. Performing simple calculations involving money is correlated with intelligence  Insight refers to patients awareness and understanding of their chief problem. 1. Acknowledges being ill 2. Acknowledges illness but attributes cause to bad food, climate, overwork, virus, need for rest, etc. 3. Denies being ill at all  Judgment Abilities to exercise judgment in dealing with social situations, which includes acting appropriately during the interview and understanding the consequences of their actions.