Thought inspiration

Thought input is a schizophrenia symptom of the first order in the sense of Kurt Schneider , in which the person concerned thinks that their own thoughts have been input from outside.

Example: "You put thoughts in my head".

Thought impulses are part of the psychotic experience and can occur with ego disorders , i.e. mental illnesses (for example schizophrenia ). Furthermore, they can be triggered by a medical disease factor or by the direct effect of a substance (drugs, medication).

Some patients attribute the external influence to certain people or even objects. Whether such explanations are diagnostically relevant is not discussed in detail in research. While some psychologists view thought input as delusional and pathological, there is also an assumption that thought input need not be pathological. For example, Jackson & Fulford (1997) describe a case in which a patient exhibits symptoms of thought-input, but these are consistent with his religious beliefs and he is fully functional and able to work.

Thought inspiration is differentiated from theory of mind in the quality of perception insofar as those affected perceive a clear deviation from their own self. Based on the perception of the ability to transmit thoughts, the perceived ego boundary seems permeable in both directions. In thought-inspiration the penetration is directed inward, while in thought-transmission it is directed outward.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mullins, S. & Spence, SA: Re-examining thought insertion . Ed .: The British Journal of Psychiatry. tape 182 , no. 4 , 2003, p. 293-298 .
^ Mello, CS: First rank symptoms of schizophrenia. I. The frequency in schizophrenics on admission to hospital. II Differences between individual first ranks symptoms. Ed .: British Journal of Psychiatry. tape 117 , 1970, pp. 5-23 .
^ Porter, R .: The Faber book of Madness. Ed .: Faber & Faber. London 1991.
↑ Jackson, MC & Fulford, KWM: Spiritual experience and psychopathology . Ed .: Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology. tape 4 , 1997, p. 41-65 .
↑ Sims, A .: An overview of the psychopathology of perception: first rank symptoms as a localizing sign in schizophrenia. Ed .: Psychopathology. tape 24 , 1991, pp. 369-274 .

[:0-1] Mullins, S. & Spence, SA: Re-examining thought insertion . Ed .: The British Journal of Psychiatry. tape 182 , no. 4 , 2003, p. 293-298 .

[2] Mello, CS: First rank symptoms of schizophrenia. I. The frequency in schizophrenics on admission to hospital. II Differences between individual first ranks symptoms. Ed .: British Journal of Psychiatry. tape 117 , 1970, pp. 5-23 .

[3] Porter, R .: The Faber book of Madness. Ed .: Faber & Faber. London 1991.

[4] Jackson, MC & Fulford, KWM: Spiritual experience and psychopathology . Ed .: Philosophy, Psychiatry and Psychology. tape 4 , 1997, p. 41-65 .

[5] Sims, A .: An overview of the psychopathology of perception: first rank symptoms as a localizing sign in schizophrenia. Ed .: Psychopathology. tape 24 , 1991, pp. 369-274 .