Obsessive Thought Disorder. What is Thought Obsession?

Thought obsession (obsessive thought disorder), another obsessive disorder, is a disorganized way of thinking that leads to abnormal ways of expressing language when speaking and writing. It is one of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia, but it can also be found in other mental disorders such as mania and depression.

Thought obsession is one of the most difficult mental disorders to diagnose and treat, as most people show signs of thought disorder from time to time. Some people may show thought disorder only when they are tired.

There are more than 20 subtypes of thought disorder.

Thought Obsession, Types and Symptoms of Obsessive Thought Disorder

Thought disorder first entered the scientific literature in the 1980s, when it was described as a symptom of schizophrenia. Its simplest definition is any disturbance in the organization and processing of ideas.

Each type of thought obsession has its own specific symptoms. However, a breakdown in the interconnectedness of ideas is seen in all types of thought disorders. While it is common for most people to have occasional symptoms of a thought disorder, the thought disorder is not classified until it negatively affects their ability to communicate.

Some of the most common types of thought disorder include:

Alogy

Alogy; impoverishment of thought and speech is poverty of speech. People with alogies give short and unequivocal answers to questions. People with this thought disorder rarely speak unless asked to. We often see alogia in patients with dementia (a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social skills – such as Alzheimer’s) or schizophrenia.

Blockage

People with thought blocking often stop suddenly mid-sentence. They pause for a few seconds or minutes. When they start talking again, they usually talk about a different topic. Thought blocking is common in people with schizophrenia.

Circumstantiality

People with thought disorder, also known as secondary thinking or second-order speech, often include excessively irrelevant details in their speech or writing. They provide many unnecessary details before returning to the main topic.

Clanging

A person with a tonal harmony thought process makes word choices based on the pronunciation of the word rather than the meaning of the word. It relies on the use of rhymes, alliterations (repetition of the same sound or syllable to create harmony in poetry or prose) or puns, and therefore forms sentences that do not make sense. Clanging thought disorder is a common symptom of mania.

Derailment

A person with deviant thought disorder speaks only in chains of semi-related ideas. Their ideas often drift further and further away from the topic of conversation. For example, he jumps from talking about chickens to the hair on his head and then to your shoes.

Speaking Without Concentration

A person with disorientated speech thought disorder has trouble maintaining a topic. Switches quickly between topics and is distracted by internal and external stimuli. We usually see it in people with mania.

For example, someone exhibiting a distracted speech will suddenly ask you in mid-sentence where you got your glasses while talking about their teacher.

Echolalia

People with echolalia have trouble communicating. Instead of expressing their thoughts, they often repeat the sounds and words they hear. For example, instead of answering a question, they may repeat the question.

We can divide echolalia into two groups as immediate echolalia and delayed echolalia. Immediate echolalia is the repetition of a word or phrase as soon as it is heard. Delayed echolalia, on the other hand, is the repetition of an advertisement line heard before, for example, after some time has passed.

Other Types of Thought Obsession, Obsessive Thought Disorder

The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychiatry lists 20 types of thought disorders. Some of these are those:

Paraphasic error: Persistent mispronunciation or slips of the tongue

Stylized speech: Using unconventional language that is overly formal or outdated

Loss of goal: Difficulty maintaining a topic and not getting to a point

Neologism: Generating new unknown words

Inconsistency: Conversation with random collections of words, known as “word salad”.

What Causes Thought Obsession, Obsessive Thought Disorder?

The cause of thought disorder is not well known. This disorder is not a symptom of a specific disorder, but we often see it in people with schizophrenia and other mental health problems.

The cause of schizophrenia is also unknown, but it is thought that biological, genetic, and environmental factors may all contribute.

The symptoms of thought disorder vary widely, so specialists cannot find a single underlying cause. Researchers are still debating what might cause thought disorder symptoms.

Some researchers believe this is due to changes in language-related parts of the brain, others believe it may be due to problems in more general parts of the brain.

What are the Risk Factors for Thought Obsession and Obsessive Thought Disorder?

Thought disorder is one of the defining symptoms of schizophrenia and psychosis. People also have a higher risk of developing thought disorder if they have:

• Mood disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
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• Anxiety
• Schizophrenia

According to studies, people with epilepsy have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia and psychosis compared to the general population.

A traumatic brain injury increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and other mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders.

The following risk factors may also be risk factors for schizophrenia and associated thought disorder:

• Stress
• Use of mind-altering drugs
• Inflammatory and autoimmune disease
• Exposure to toxic chemicals before birth

When to See a Doctor?

It’s not uncommon for people to have occasional symptoms of thought disorder. However, if these symptoms are frequent or severe enough to cause communication problems, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Thought disorder can be a symptom of a mental disorder. Many mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, are progressive and do not improve without treatment. However, people with mental disorders are often unaware of their symptoms and need the help of a family member or friend.

If you notice the following symptoms in someone you know, you may want to encourage them to see a doctor:

• Hallucinations
• Disorganized thinking or speech
• Neglecting personal hygiene
• Lack of emotion
• Lack of facial expression
• Social withdrawal

Thought Obsession, Obsessive Thought Disorder Treatment

Thought disorder treatment targets the underlying medical condition. The two main types of treatment are drug therapy and psychotherapy.

Medication

Depending on the cause of the thought disorder, antipsychotic medications may be prescribed. These drugs can balance the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy helps people replace their thoughts with more realistic ones and teaches them ways to manage an illness.

Treatments are available that can effectively manage the symptoms of thought disorder, and a doctor can help determine the right course of treatment based on the underlying condition.

Result

Thought disorder is a disorganized way of thinking that leads to unusual speech and writing. People with thought disorders have difficulty communicating with others and may have trouble recognizing that they have a problem. If you suspect someone has a thought disorder, encourage them to seek medical attention.

You can also look: How to Stop Obsessive Thinking

You may also be interested in this article: Compulsive Talking Disorder

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