Thought broadcasting
Encyclopedia
Thought broadcasting is a positive symptom of schizophrenia in the diagnostic process
undertaken by mental health professional
s. Thought broadcasting has been suggested as one of the so-called "first rank symptoms" (Schneider's first-rank symptoms) believed to distinguish schizophrenia from other psychotic disorders.
During thought broadcasting people describe their thoughts being broadcast, or available, to others. This is a passive process and not something the person can control. It is different from people being able to read their thoughts in that when thoughts are being broadcast they are available to anybody. To exemplify, thought broadcast can be compared to radio transmitting as opposed to telephone connections. Note there is no implication that their thoughts are being heard.
In mild manifestations, a person with this thought disorder may doubt their perception of thought broadcasting. Infrequent instances are considered to be mild. When thought broadcasting occurs on a regular basis, the disorder begins to affect behavior and interferes with the person's ability to function in society. This is considered to be a severe manifestation of thought broadcasting that is usually indicative of schizophrenia.
Medical diagnosis
Medical diagnosis refers both to the process of attempting to determine or identify a possible disease or disorder , and to the opinion reached by this process...
undertaken by mental health professional
Mental health professional
A mental health professional is a health care practitioner who offers services for the purpose of improving an individual's mental health or to treat mental illness. This broad category includes psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, mental health...
s. Thought broadcasting has been suggested as one of the so-called "first rank symptoms" (Schneider's first-rank symptoms) believed to distinguish schizophrenia from other psychotic disorders.
During thought broadcasting people describe their thoughts being broadcast, or available, to others. This is a passive process and not something the person can control. It is different from people being able to read their thoughts in that when thoughts are being broadcast they are available to anybody. To exemplify, thought broadcast can be compared to radio transmitting as opposed to telephone connections. Note there is no implication that their thoughts are being heard.
In mild manifestations, a person with this thought disorder may doubt their perception of thought broadcasting. Infrequent instances are considered to be mild. When thought broadcasting occurs on a regular basis, the disorder begins to affect behavior and interferes with the person's ability to function in society. This is considered to be a severe manifestation of thought broadcasting that is usually indicative of schizophrenia.
See also
- TelepathyTelepathyTelepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
- Thought withdrawalThought withdrawalIn psychiatry, thought withdrawal is the delusion that thoughts have been 'taken out' of the patient's mind. It often accompanies thought blocking. The patient may experience a break in the flow of their thoughts believing that the missing thoughts have been withdrawn from their mind by some...
- Thought insertionThought insertionThought insertion is the idea that another thinks through the mind of the patient. The patient may sometimes be unable to distinguish between their own thoughts and those inserted into their minds. A patient who is diagnosed with this disorder is found to be convinced of their beliefs and...