A neologism is a new word or expression. In schizophrenia, neologisms may be words or phrases that only have meaning to the person with schizophrenia.
In schizophrenia, neologisms may be a symptom of disorganized speech, which is a type of thought disorder.
Although neologisms associated with schizophrenia make sense to the person with the condition, they may cause difficulty communicating with others.
What are neologisms in schizophrenia?
Neologisms are one way that schizophrenia may affect a person’s speech. A neologism is a new word or phrase that has no apparent meaning to a bystander but that has a clear meaning to the person with schizophrenia.
A 2020 article lists the following examples of neologisms that have occurred in people with schizophrenia or psychosis:
- “time vessel” to refer to a watch
- “hand shoes” to refer to gloves
- “paper skate” to refer to a ballpoint pen
How schizophrenia may affect speech
Neologisms are just one way that schizophrenia may affect a person’s speech. Other potential speech manifestations may include:
- disorganized speech patterns
- tangential speech, in which someone suddenly diverts from the previous topic
- incoherent speech
- suddenly stopping talking mid-sentence
A 2022 article highlights that these symptoms may disrupt a person’s ability to communicate with others. As a result, they may experience difficulty maintaining friendships, career challenges, and social disengagement.
Disorganized speech may also affect a person’s sense of self and make it difficult to connect and communicate their ideas.
Managing neologisms in schizophrenia
Seeking treatment for schizophrenia may help a person manage neologisms and other speech symptoms that affect their daily life or ability to communicate.
Treatment for schizophrenia may involve medications and nonpharmaceutical options. A person’s doctor will tailor their treatment plan to their specific symptoms, but it may include:
- antipsychotics, such as:
- olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
- clozapine (Clozaril), particularly for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- psychoeducation
- family interventions
- social skills training
- cognitive remediation
Getting treatment for schizophrenia may help lead to a more favorable outlook and a better quality of life.
When to speak with a doctor
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), early diagnosis and treatment can contribute to a more favorable outlook for people with schizophrenia.
A person who thinks that they have symptoms of schizophrenia can contact a healthcare professional for a diagnosis and to rule out any other potential causes of symptoms.
If someone with schizophrenia has an acute or worsening episode, they may require help from a loved one to visit a doctor or go to the hospital. In some cases, the affected person may be reluctant to go or believe it is unnecessary.
A person with schizophrenia can also speak with a healthcare professional if they experience new or worsening disordered speech, particularly if it starts to affect their relationships, careers, or daily lives.
Summary
Neologisms are new words or phrases that have a clear meaning to a person with schizophrenia but no apparent meaning to anyone else. They are a type of disorganized speech that may affect people with this condition.
Neologisms and other speech symptoms may cause difficulty communicating with others. They may also contribute to feelings of social isolation and loneliness in people with schizophrenia.
Speaking with a healthcare professional about treatment options, such as medications or therapy, can help someone with schizophrenia manage neologisms.
