Comprehension-defects in the psychoses.

Abstract

The aphasias and psychoses involve changes or even loss of comprehension which may be more apparent in communication than in free word-association. To investigate such defects, 84 psychotics were asked to interpret 6 tachistoscopically exposed sentences––3 simple statements and 3 abstract epigrams. Four types of comprehension-defect are illustrated but show no relation to diagnosis. Fourteen of the patients showed no defects of comprehension. It is argued that disturbances of association produce these defects of comprehension.