Thought disorder measured as random speech structure classifies negative symptoms and schizophrenia diagnosis 6 months in advance

Abstract

Diagnosis: Early signs of speech problems indicative of thought disorder Abnormal speech in someone showing early signs of psychosis can help doctors diagnose schizophrenia and its ‘negative’ symptoms. Natália Mota from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and colleagues asked 21 people undergoing first clinical contact for recent-onset psychosis and 21 healthy controls to recall a dream or recent memory. They then analyzed the structure of the participants’ verbal reports using a mathematical technique. The patients were followed up during 6 months to establish a more formal diagnosis. The researchers found that those later diagnosed with schizophrenia exhibited more disorganized speech (almost random in structure) at the initial doctor’s visit than those later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Less connected speech among people with schizophrenia was also indicative of more severe negative symptoms such as blunted emotions and lack of motivation.