AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -What is formal thought disorder? Thought disorder is a disorganized way of thinking that leads to abnormal ways of expressing language when speaking and writing. It’s one of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia, but it may be present in other mental disorders such as mania and depression.

Detailed explanation-2: -The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually classified into: positive symptoms – any change in behaviour or thoughts, such as hallucinations or delusions. negative symptoms – where people appear to withdraw from the world around then, take no interest in everyday social interactions, and often appear emotionless and flat.

Detailed explanation-3: -FTD can be subdivided into clusters of positive and negative symptoms, as well as objective versus subjective symptoms. Within the scale of positive and negative symptoms they have been grouped into positive formal thought disorder (posFTD) and negative formal thought disorder (negFTD).

Detailed explanation-4: -It is sometimes called concrete thinking. The patient is unable to think in abstract terms and will give an over-literal interpretation of proverbs e.g. when asked about the phrase “a rolling stone gathers no moss", the explanation revolves around stones and moss.