Understanding Schizophrenia: Causes and Symptoms

5. Disorganized Speech

People with schizophrenia have difficulty concentrating or maintaining a consistent train of thought. Disorganized speech is a positive symptom of schizophrenia. The individual may respond to questions in an incoherent or illogical manner or shift rapidly from one unrelated topic to another.

Another common symptom is the use of made-up words or phrases that seem incomprehensible or nonsensical to others. Some people with schizophrenia experience a speech phenomenon called clang, the verbalization of rhyming words and phrases that have no apparent meaning because the individuals associate the words based upon sounds rather than concepts.