We have " Thought Disorder " and " Cognitive Dysfunction ". What do you think ?
Thought disorder (TD) or formal thought disorder (FTD) refers to disorganized thinking as evidenced by disorganized speech. Specific thought disorders include derailment, poverty of speech, tangentiality, illogicality, perseveration, neologism, and thought blocking.
Psychiatrists consider formal thought disorder as being one of two types of disordered thinking, with the other type being delusions. The latter involves “content” while the former involves “form”. Although the term “thought disorder” can refer to either type, in common parlance it refers most often to a disorder of thought “form” also known as formal thought disorder.
Eugen Bleuler, who named schizophrenia, held that thought disorder was its defining characteristic. However, formal thought disorder is not unique to schizophrenia or psychosis. It is often a symptom of mania, and less often it can be present in other mental disorders such as depression. Clanging or echolalia may be present in Tourette syndrome. Patients with a clouded consciousness, like that found in delirium, also have a formal thought disorder.
However, there is a clinical difference between these two groups. Those with schizophrenia or psychosis are less likely to demonstrate awareness or concern about the disordered thinking. Clayton and Winokur have suggested that this results from a fundamental inability to use the same type of Aristotelian logic as others. On the other hand, patients with a clouded consciousness, referred to as “organic” patients, usually do demonstrate awareness and concern, and complain about being “confused” or “unable to think straight”; Clayton and Winokur suggest that this is because their thought disorder results, instead, from various cognitive deficits.
https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/cogdys_manual/CogDysHndbk.htm
Cognitive dysfunction in mental illness
Mental illness affects many people, but what most do not realize is that it does not just cause emotional problems – it causes cognitive problems too. The person with mental illness may find it difficult to think clearly, pay attention and remember. For some, the cognitive problems are only evident during the episodes of illness. For others, the cognitive problems are more persistent. If mental illness is managed well, the person can lead a more productive life and have longer periods of stability. To better manage an illness it is important to understand the many ways it affects functioning. When people know what the cognitive symptoms of mental illness are, they can better manage the illness and function better.
