Disorganized Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Disorganized thinking is considered by some to be the most important feature of schizophrenia. Patients may display disorganized thinking by shifting from one topic to another (this is called derailment or loose associations), answering questions with unclear or unrelated responses (tangentiality), or, more rarely, with speech that is nearly incomprehensible (word salad). The most common forms of disorganized thinking in people with schizophrenia are derailment and tangentiality. 

Patients may display disorganized behavior in a variety of ways, from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation.  This symptom may be most obvious in observing a person’s inability to perform activities of daily living, such as preparing meals or maintaining personal hygiene. Other manifestations may include disheveled or unusual dress, inappropriate sexual behavior, and unexplained agitation (sudden shouting or swearing).