What Is A Thought Process Disorder? Diagnosis And Treatment
Disorganized and confusing thoughts can be challenging to cope with. For example, racing thoughts can be difficult to understand because they contain multiple themes and ideas. In this case, speaking or communicating can be more challenging. It might feel overwhelming, frustrating, and terrifying when you can't communicate your thoughts and needs.
In some cases, these symptoms may be a sign of a "thought disorder." Although there are no "thought disorder" diagnoses in the DSM-5, a few disorders and symptoms are associated with challenging thoughts, including delusional disorder, which can affect your thought process. Delusional disorder and similar psychotic and mood disorders can significantly impact one's social and personal functioning.
What is a thought disorder?
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder I (specifically during mania)
- Psychosis
- Delusional disorder
- Brief psychotic disorder
- Dementia
A thought disorder may be diagnosed after careful observation of one's speech, which often offers professionals an indication of how the person is thinking. It may be common for someone with a thought process challenge to think more illogically than others because they may not understand the content of their thoughts. In addition, their thoughts may be moving so fast that it's difficult for them to communicate. When this happens, they may become confused, frustrated, or angry.
However, if you are living with these symptoms, know they are often manageable or treatable with professional support. Many people with a thought disorder find ways to be productive and successful by managing their symptoms.
What are the symptoms of a thought disorder?
Individuals diagnosed with a mental illness that can cause challenges with thoughts may have altered beliefs and perceptions. Because their thoughts are often illogical, they may experience paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions. They may become confused and struggle to decipher the meaning behind words. Below are a few other symptoms of these conditions.
Interruptions in thought
A person living with thought challenges might experience racing thoughts and struggle to finish one sentence before moving on to the next. They may or may not realize they're skipping over thoughts and might speak quickly without stopping.
Rapid discussion of unrelated topics
People with thought challenges may rapidly discuss unrelated topics or form long-winded sentences that don't make sense. For example, they might talk about the moon being full the night before and talk about their favorite yogurt in the same breath.
Illogical or incoherent speech
A person may say words that do not make sense or make sounds that don't sound like words. Their thought process may not be processed or transmitted, so it could sound jumbled when they attempt to express their thoughts. They might string together many unrelated words or concepts that don't form an idea or story. This symptom can be common in those experiencing severe mania from bipolar disorder I.
A belief that someone or something has stolen thoughts
A person with a thought disorder may believe that the radio, television, or government has stolen their thoughts or is causing them to speak differently. This thought pattern is an example of paranoia and delusional thinking.
False beliefs and delusions
A person may believe that the government is out to get them or have other conspiracy theories that lead to their thoughts or speech. They may fear that others are "in on it" or make up other theories to compensate for the jumbled thoughts they're experiencing.
Difficulty following a story
A person with a thought disorder may struggle to tell a story. They may find it difficult to form a timeframe or organize their sentences.
Do I have a thought disorder?
You may be living with thought challenges if you meet the symptoms for one of the above conditions that might be associated with thought challenges. If you're unsure whether you have a condition, reaching out to a mental health professional for diagnosis may be beneficial. Treatments may vary based on the symptoms and severity of the disorder. Psychotherapy can help some people organize their thought processes and acknowledge when maladaptive thoughts arise. Working with a professional, a person can retrain their thought processes to make them more transparent. Below are a couple of treatment options.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
One way to work through maladaptive thoughts is through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). In this type of therapy, the therapist can guide clients in restructuring their thoughts, challenging how they think, and changing their feelings and behaviors. This approach may be practical for those with maladaptive thoughts. However, if you're living with schizophrenia, psychosis, or a severe mental illness, talk to a psychiatrist, therapist, and doctor to determine which treatment approach is best for you.
Medication
Doctors may sometimes recommend medication if a client is experiencing psychosis. This type of medication can help clients think more clearly. With clearer and slower thoughts, clients may express themselves and communicate with others more effectively. Consult your doctor or primary care physician before considering starting, changing, or stopping any medication.
A combination approach
Some professionals suggest a combination of medication and therapy, as medication may clarify thoughts to a point where clients can communicate their needs enough for the therapist to understand and support them. However, each person is different and may respond differently to different levels of treatment.
Medical testing
As part of your diagnosis and treatment, your doctor may recommend medical tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography scan (CAT scan) to see brain activity and rule out a physical component of your symptoms. Bloodwork may also be completed to ensure that a hormonal or chemical imbalance is not a contributing factor.
How to proceed after diagnosis
If you are living with a mental illness impacting your thoughts, support is available, and you're not alone. These symptoms are not your fault. You can work with an in-person or online therapist in addition to your treatment team to provide you with the best possible care and support. If you dedicate yourself to treatment, you're bound to be successful.
Online therapy through platforms like BetterHelp has been proven as advantageous, if not more, than face-to-face therapy. A literature review of 17 studies on the effectiveness of online CBT contrasted with traditional therapy found that eCBT was more effective for depression. It was also noted that eCBT could be less expensive than face-to-face therapy. Online therapy for CBT can also be used for other mental health conditions. People with PTSD and anxiety have found relief through this type of treatment.
If you think you might have a thought disorder but don't have time to see a therapist or are embarrassed someone you know might see you at a therapist's office, you can use online therapy. Online platforms have thousands of licensed therapists to help you determine the next steps. You can meet with your online therapist anywhere, as long as there is a safe internet connection.
Takeaway
What are examples of thought process?
Humans might react differently in certain situations—often due to differences in thought processes. An example of variance between thought processes would be someone solving a maze by verbally speaking with the team to find the correct answer, vs. someone solving a maze by drawing possible paths on paper. While both paths achieve the goal, they offer different ways of getting there.
Why is thought process important?
Thought processes are mental processes that rely on one’s critical thinking skills and are often used to solve problems. The effects and consequences of our thought process, whether negative or positive, can have ripple effects in our lives and the lives of others.
If you’re looking to find the most correct answer possible for whatever need you’re facing, you may consider others’ reasoning and perspectives. Doing this can not only help you to solve problems; but it can also foster new ideas for an even better overall result.
What word means thought process?
There isn't a commonly-used singular word that defines the cognitive activity of a thought process. Many people may refer to someone’s thought process as their reasoning, or they may simply use the term “thought process” itself.
How can I improve my thought process?
If you’re looking to improve your thought processes about a future event or a past event, you can do so by breaking down what goes into your specific process—choosing one element at a time to develop.
There are many elements of cognition and existence that can go into someone’s thought process. Some of the common include emotional intelligence, empirical reasoning, one’s primary focus(es) across contexts, and one’s ability to use creativity in reasoning.
What is responsible for thought process?
While many areas of the brain may contribute to the various types of thought-processing tasks, the frontal lobe is primarily responsible for planning, decision-making, concept-building, and reasoning.
What affects thought process?
There are many types of thought-related contributing elements that can affect the formation of one’s thought processes. For example: our upbringing can affect how one thinks and perceives the world around them. Additionally, there is evidence that certain types of personality disorders can affect one’s ability to regulate thoughts, compulsions and actions, which can affect our thought processes and the processes of others.
How do you evaluate thought process?
People and external stimuli can help many to evaluate thought processes, as we observe how people act in response to our actions or statements. Additionally, many people may choose to self-police their thought processes using counterfactual thinking; a form of cognitive review that operates off conjecture, decision-making, and the hypothetical realm.
An example of this would be someone thinking about what they could have done differently in a situation or setting. I.e., “If I had gotten up an hour earlier, I could have made it to the gym and work. Now, I’m running late.”
How do you use thought process in a sentence?
There are many ways to use thought process in a sentence. For example, someone who wanted a certain type of outcome and didn’t get it due to a decision out of their control might say: “I don’t understand the thought process behind the manager’s decision to postpone.”
What is a better word for thought?
Synonyms for thought that may apply better for your specific needs include notion, idea, or concept.
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