Language Structure and Predictability in Overinclusive Patients

Abstract

Deviant language behaviour is the primary basis for the clinical inference of thought disorder. Bleuler (1950), for example, emphasizes loose associations and disjointed utterances. Mayer-Gross, Slater, and Roth (1960) state that thought disorder is indicated by such conversation characteristics as ‘woolly vagueness', in-consequential following of side issues, direction by alliteration, analogies or clang associations, and the use of words out of context. However, psychological studies have typically used measures of disordered thinking derived from performance on categorization tasks. Such tasks do not obviously measure the abnormality which is definitive for the clinician. The study reported here was an attempt to relate measures of language effectiveness to overinclusive thought disorder.

Language in Schizophrenia Part 1: An Introduction

“…1991). Both these measures were relatively specific to patients who were characterized clinically as being thought disordered (measures using Cloze analysis: Hart and Payne 1973; Manschreck et al. 1979; measures using the Type:Token ratio: Allen 1983; Manschreck et al.…”

Building coherence: A framework for exploring the breakdown of links across clause boundaries in schizophrenia

“…Moreover, when more context was provided, it proved easier to predict upcoming words in controls’ speech, but harder to make such predictions in patients’ speech (Salzinger, Pisoni, Portnoy, & Feldman, 1970; Salzinger, Portnoy, & Feldman, 1979). Later studies suggested that such unpredictability was most characteristic of speech produced by patients who had been clinically characterized as thought disordered (Hart & Payne, 1973; Manschreck, Maher, Rucklos, & White, 1979). …”

Linguistic style as an indicator of psychotherapeutic regression: A case study

“…However, that is not relevant to our main hypothesis, which is 275 Downloaded by [Temple University Libraries] at 04:59 04 June 2016 that, whatever brings it about, the trend towards better control over regression will manifest itself in the linguistic style of the patient. Moreover, previous research on stylistic effects of medication has not demonstrated reliable effects of medication on style (Feldstein & Jaffe 1963, Hart & Payne 1973, Johnstone et al 1978.…”

“…As regards the effects of medication on style, findings are generally negative. Feldstein & Jaffe (1963), Hart & Payne (1973), and Johnstone, Crow, Frith, Carney, & Price (1978), among others, found no effects, although Hart & Payne (1973) also noted some unexpected ones. Positive findings have been noted with respect to communicative ability rather than linguistic style.…”