In psychology and psychiatry, clanging refers to a mode of speech characterized by association of words based upon sound rather than concepts. For example, this may include compulsive rhyming or alliteration without apparent logical connection between words. This is associated with the irregular thinking apparent in psychotic mental illnesses (e.g. mania and schizophrenia).[1] Gustav Aschaffenburg found that manic individuals generated these "clang-associations" roughly 10–50 times more than non-manic individuals.[2] Aschaffenburg also found that the frequency of these associations increased for all individuals as they became more fatigued.[3]
Clanging refers specifically to behavior that is situationally inappropriate. While a poet rhyming is not evidence of mental illness, disorganized speech that impedes the patient's ability to communicate is a disorder in itself, often seen in schizophrenia.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Peralta, Victor; Cuesta, Manuel J.; de Leon, Jose (March 1992). "Formal thought disorder in schizophrenia: A factor analytic study". Comprehensive Psychiatry. 33 (2): 105–110. doi:10.1016/0010-440X(92)90005-B. PMID 1544294.
- ^ Kraepelin, Emil (1921). Manic-depressive insanity and paranoia. Edinburgh: E. & S. Livingstone. p. 32.
- ^ Spitzer, Manfred (1999). The mind within the net: Models of learning, thinking, and acting. Cambridge: MIT. p. 219.
- ^ Covington MA, He C, Brown C, Naçi L, McClain JT, Fjordbak BS, Semple J, Brown J (Sep 2005). "Schizophrenia and the structure of language: the linguist's view" (PDF). Schizophr. Res. 77 (1): 85–98. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.532.2190. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2005.01.016. PMID 16005388. S2CID 7206375.