Thought blocking
Encyclopedia
Thought blocking, a phenomenon that occurs in people with psychiatric illnesses (usually schizophrenia
), occurs when a person's speech is suddenly interrupted by silences that may last a few seconds to a minute or longer. Blocking is often brought on by questioning or discussing something of particularly large personal significance. When the person begins speaking again, after the block, they will often speak about a subject unrelated to what was being discussed when blocking occurred. People with thinking disorders usually have a very un organized thought process. They may say words that are completely unrelated to the previous topic they were just talking about. It is described as being experienced as an unanticipated, quick and total emptying of the mind (Gelder, Mayou and Geddes 2005). People with schizophrenia commonly experience thought blocking and may comprehend the experience in peculiar ways (Gelder, Mayou and Geddes 2005). For example a person with schizophrenia might remark that another person has removed their thoughts from their brain (Gelder, Mayou and Geddes 2005).
When doctors diagnose thought blocking, it is important that they consider other causes of pauses in speech and expression, such as petit mal seizures, aphasia
, hesitation brought on by anxiety
, or slow thought processes
. When looking for schizophrenia they may look for thought blocking. It is a common issue with schizophrenia patients.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
), occurs when a person's speech is suddenly interrupted by silences that may last a few seconds to a minute or longer. Blocking is often brought on by questioning or discussing something of particularly large personal significance. When the person begins speaking again, after the block, they will often speak about a subject unrelated to what was being discussed when blocking occurred. People with thinking disorders usually have a very un organized thought process. They may say words that are completely unrelated to the previous topic they were just talking about. It is described as being experienced as an unanticipated, quick and total emptying of the mind (Gelder, Mayou and Geddes 2005). People with schizophrenia commonly experience thought blocking and may comprehend the experience in peculiar ways (Gelder, Mayou and Geddes 2005). For example a person with schizophrenia might remark that another person has removed their thoughts from their brain (Gelder, Mayou and Geddes 2005).
When doctors diagnose thought blocking, it is important that they consider other causes of pauses in speech and expression, such as petit mal seizures, aphasia
Aphasia
Aphasia is an impairment of language ability. This class of language disorder ranges from having difficulty remembering words to being completely unable to speak, read, or write....
, hesitation brought on by anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
, or slow thought processes
Bradyphrenia
Bradyphrenia is a neurological term referring to the slowness of thought common to many disorders of the brain.-Diseases:Disorders characterized by bradyphrenia include Parkinson's disease and forms of schizophrenia...
. When looking for schizophrenia they may look for thought blocking. It is a common issue with schizophrenia patients.