Stöppler, M. C. (2020, September 24). Disorganized Speech Symptoms, Signs & Causes. MedicineNet. https://www.medicinenet.com/disorganized_speech/symptoms.htm. 

University of Rochester

Disorganized speech is a sign of disorganized thoughts characteristic in psychosis. It can take many forms, such as unintelligible rambling, going off on tangents, loose associations, making up words (neologisms), and rushed speech. 

The following video is a good example of a fairly severe case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2vMnyTiwp4


Disorganized speech

Disorganized speech symptoms/causes citation

Kuperberg, G. R. (2010). Language in Schizophrenia Part 1: An Introduction. Language and Linguistics Compass, 4(8), 576–589. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-818x.2010.00216.x 

Language in Schizophrenia

A clinician is interviewing a patient who says the following: 'They asked me how I was feeling, but feelings are like the ocean, so deep, and the Titanic sank in the ocean, which was a big ship. I used to build model ships, but the glue was always so sticky.' Which characteristic of disorganized speech is most evident in this statement?

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