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Effect of emotional salience on thought disorder in patients with schizophrenia
G Haddock1, M Wolfenden, I Lowens
1Department of Clinical Psychology, University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury.
Background:
This study examined the effect of emotional salience on the severity of thought disorder in schizophrenic patients.
Method:
Ten thought disordered and ten non-thought disordered schizophrenic patients were interviewed under two conditions: a personal interview involving material which was emotionally salient and an impersonal interview involving material which was not emotionally salient.
Results:
Both groups exhibited some thought disorder during both interviews. The thought disordered patients exhibited significantly more thought disorder during the emotionally salient interview.
Conclusions:
Thought disorder in schizophrenic patients is affected by the emotional salience of the material being discussed. Clinical implications are discussed.