Psychopathology of thought (I/III)

Joaquín Díaz Atienza

In this first section we deal with alterations in the formulation of concepts and formal or quantitative alterations of thought.

 

CLASSIFICATION OF THOUGHT DISORDERS

1. 1. Alterations in the formulation of concepts:
      • • Alogies
      • • neologisms
      • • Paralogisms

1. 1. Formal and/or quantitative alterations of thought:
      • • Slowed down
      • • Persevering
      • • Tidy
      • • Blocking or interception
      • • Ideofugitive
      • • Flow of ideas
      • • Incoherent
      • • Dispersed

1. 1. Alterations in thought content:
      • • Obsessive/phobic ideas
      • • Overrated ideas
      • • delusional ideas
      • • Delusional ideas
      • • Fantastic ideas

1. 1. Alterations in the experiences of self and ownership:
      • • Theft
      • • Dissemination
      • • Tax
      • • Menting

INTRODUCTION

Thought could be defined as intelligence in action (Sarráis, 2016). Therefore, when we speak of different types of thought (reflective, logical, analytical, critical, pragmatic, etc.), we could essentially be referring to different types of intelligence and, ultimately, to the different cognitive capacities of the individual. Thought would be the result of the associative application of cognitive, conceptual, and abstract abilities to the individual's goals.

However, in this article we specifically address those situations in which the associations of these capacities are compromised by psychological causes. That is, what is commonly called, psychopathology of thought.

The chapter on the psychopathology of thought is very broad, controversial, and sometimes the concepts used are redundant because of the different schools that have dealt with this topic throughout history.

It is very important to consider the role they play the emotions within the whole of what we call thought. Its orientation, direction, and, to a large extent, its processing depend on them. We will see this more clearly when we discuss delusional ideas, fantastic ideas, overvalued ideas, and the psychopathology of affect. Equal importance is acquired the language as an instrument for understanding thought and its alterations.

I will present the most universally accepted psychopathological concepts without neglecting to provide those nuances that are considered relevant.

A) Alteration in the formulation of concepts

1. 1. Alogia:

The logia It is a psychopathological concept that etymologically means "absence of logic." This occurs when the subject It loses the capacity for abstraction and understanding of the meaning of concepts.. It usually occurs in neurological diseases that affect the frontal cortex; the loss of concepts is usually progressive: first, the most complex ones are lost (for example, justice, beauty, equality…), later, and as the process progresses, the simpler ones, such as table, stone, water…. The assessment of alogia is made through language, the alteration of which can lead to its absence.

2. Neologisms:

It is nothing more than the invention of new wordsIt gives the impression that the subject cannot find the appropriate word to express what they are experiencing. They are usually constructed by combining two or more known words (hybridization). Etymologically, it signifies "new logic."

The RAE defines it as “a new word, meaning, or turn of phrase in a language.”

3. Paralogisms:

Etymologically, according to the RAE, it comes from the Greek (παραλογισμός paralogisms, derived from παραλογίζεσθαι paralogízesthai 'paralogize'.) and means: False reasoning.

In reality, what happens is that the subject, while retaining the concepts intact, uses them with different meanings or inappropriately. The discourse appears incomprehensible and extravagant. For example, “the rocky weeping of the flower.”

B) Formal and/or quantitative alterations of thought

1. Slowed down:

Both the thought slowed down such as inhibited They are the result of a more complex phenomenon that we call bradypsychia or slowness in the thought processes of ideation. Some authors tell us that inhibited thought This is due to a slow availability of ideas, whereas in the slowed thinking The association and the availability of ideas would be compromised. When these two phenomena are severe, it can lead to... silence.  

2. Persevering:

The subject remains fixated on a few ideas, which they repeat ad nauseam without being able to advance their discourse. It is quite similar to inhibited and slowed thinking. verbigeration which consists of the repetition of words, being phenomenologically closer to palilalia than to perseverance.

3. Thorough:

It is characterized by productive thinking with serious difficulties in separating the incidental from the important. Details are given the same emphasis as the important points. There are serious difficulties in understanding the patient's speech, requiring great attention to do so. It is the typical language of epileptics and some obsessive-compulsive patients. Hence, it has also been called “viscous speech".

4. Blocking or interception:

The person suddenly loses their train of thought. They are unable to continue their speech or recall what they were thinking. Their mind goes blank. This mental block generally occurs in dementia, psychotic episodes, absence seizures, and situations of intense stress.

5. Ideofugitive or flight of ideas:

This is characterized by exceptionally productive thinking and a great capacity for association. The person talks incessantly, moving seamlessly from one topic to another. It is also known as logorrhea, verbosity or jumping thoughtDue to the great associative capacity, when the subject hears a word, he is able to produce other phonetically similar words (assonance association), although they do not necessarily have synonymous meanings.

6. Flow of ideas:

The difference with ideofugitive thinking is that the subject is able to maintain the axis of discourse, although with very poor thought content.

7. Incoherent:

The individual associates unrelated ideas, resulting in incomprehensible speech. The logical association is impaired, although the associative force may remain. Therefore, the individual is unable to reach conclusions. This often occurs in dissociative episodes.

8. Dispersed:

This would be the ultimate expression of the breakdown of thought: it lacks association, grammatical structure, or syntax. This type of thinking is expressed in completely incomprehensible language. Some authors do not distinguish between incoherent and disjointed thought: the latter being the ultimate expression of the former.

 

In the next topic we will address the alterations in thought content.

the bibliography It is explained at the end.