Thought Disorder

What is Thought Disorder?

Thought disorder, or formal thought disorder, is a mental condition characterized by disorganized thinking and overall cognition confusion. Formal thought disorder refers to a disturbance in a person’s ability to generate a logical sequence of ideas or a coherent narrative. Thought disorders can occur in both written and spoken language, and are often a sign of a psychotic episode or schizophrenic break.

Specific thought disorders include derailment, when idea patterns are unrelated; poverty of speech, in which there is a general lack of modifying and explanatory content; perseveration, characterized by continual repetition of a single thought or phrase; and thought blocking, when speech is interrupted by unexpected silences. Thought disorders are usually diagnosed when a person’s speaking or writing indicates illogical or incoherent patterns of thinking—a sign of a delusional mindset.

A symptom of many different mental disorders, disordered thinking often implies a psychosis. In fact, disordered thinking is considered a defining characteristic of schizophrenia. However, thought disorder is not unique to schizophrenia or psychosis. A thought disorder can be a symptom of other mental disorders, such as bipolar mania or clinical depression. Psychotherapy and medication support can be used to help manage a thought disorder.

Sources: Psych Central, Johns Hopkins Medicine