Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
09:29
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
Thought disorder in schizophrenia is associated with both executive dysfunction and circumscribed impairments in
John Stirling1, Jonathan Hellewell, Andrew Blakey
1Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK. j.stirling@mmu.ac.uk
Psychological Medicine
|January 13, 2006
Summary
Formal thought disorder (FTD) in schizophrenia is linked to executive dysfunction and semantic processing deficits, not general language impairments. These findings clarify the origins of FTD, aiding in understanding schizophrenia
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Formal thought disorder (FTD) is a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia, yet its underlying causes remain unclear.
- Existing theories suggest FTD may stem from disordered language, poor neurocognition, or a combination of executive and semantic processing deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurocognitive and psycholinguistic origins of formal thought disorder (FTD) in schizophrenia.
- To differentiate between language-based and cognitive-based explanations for FTD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 30 schizophrenia patients and 18 healthy controls underwent neurocognitive and psycholinguistic assessments.
- Thought disorder (TD) was evaluated using the Thought, Language and Communication Scale (TLC) during clinical review.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients showed lower performance across most cognitive and linguistic tests compared to controls.
- A significant correlation was found between higher levels of TD and poorer performance on executive function and semantic processing tasks.
- No significant relationship was observed between TD and syntactic psycholinguistic functions.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that formal thought disorder (FTD) in schizophrenia is primarily associated with executive dysfunction and impaired semantic processing.
- These cognitive deficits appear to be more critical to the etiology of FTD than general language impairments or broader cognitive deficits.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
01:22Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid
Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
01:24Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle with...