Thought Blocking

Thought blocking is a thought condition usually caused by a mental health condition such as schizophrenia. During thought blocking, a person stops speaking suddenly and without explanation in the middle of a sentence. People who experience this symptom report that they feel like the thought has been removed from their brains.

Examples of Thought Blocking

Thought blocking can occur at any time during speech, but is particularly common when a person is discussing a psychologically sensitive topic. For example, a person might begin discussing childhood abuse with her therapist and then stop speaking midway through the sentence. When the therapist asks the person to continue, the person may respond that she completely forgot what she was going to say.

Thought blocking is different from the occasional lapses in memory most people experience. Brief lapses in memory can usually be triggered by thoughtful questions or by refocusing on the topic, but people experiencing thought blocking truly cannot recall what they were going to say. While it is similar to the deliberate process of avoiding thoughts or speaking about certain topics, it is not a conscious choice and people who experience thought blocking feel as if their thoughts have vanished.

Causes and Treatment

The most common cause of thought blocking is schizophrenia, but trauma, brain injuries, and some drugs may also induce thought blocking. Treatment usually requires medication to manage the symptoms of the underlying conditions, but people may also learn coping skills to help them focus on and manage their thoughts.

References:

1. Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2010). Abnormal psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
2. Schizophrenia. (n.d.). National Institutes of Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-index.shtml

Last Updated: 08-28-2015