Conceptual Structure in Thought-Disordered Schizophrenics

Abstract

“Thought-disorder” in schizophrenia was initially a psychiatric concept derived from clinical observation. As crystallized in standard psychiatric authorities, say Mayer-Gross, Slater and Roth (1954) the primary features of the talk (and inferentially the thinking) of thought-disordered schizophrenic patients are: (i)Inconsequential following of side issues.(ii)Tendencies for the thought to be directed by alliterations, analogies, clang associations, associations with accidents of the speaker's environment, symbolic meanings, and the condensation of several (perhaps mutually contradictory) ideas into one.(iii)Words used out of context, e.g. concrete meanings taken where abstract meanings would be appropriate.(iv)Clinging to unimportant detail.(v)The use of laconic answers, e.g. I don't know, maybe, perhaps—indicative of emptiness and vagueness of ideas.(vi)Thought is generally marked by gaps, poverty, indefiniteness and vagueness.(vii)Indications of thought-blocking.(viii)Indications of pressure of thoughts.

La técnica de Rejilla como instrumento de evaluación y formulación de hipótesis clínicas

“…El índice de intensidad de Bannister (1960), tomado constructo a constructo nos indica la centralidad de ese constructo. Se computa elevando al cuadrado la correlación de un constructo con cada uno de los demás, promediando estos resultados y extrayendo su raíz cuadrada.…”

Possibilities and Limitations of Kelly’s Grid Technique in the Differentiation of Transference Toward Therapeutical Figures

“…A form of the repertory grid technique of Kelly [2,6], modified by Bannister [1] was used. It already proved to be a valid method for such purposes [3]'.…”

“…This was 1 1 The description of the method for such purposes, attempts to validate it and other applications of it are described by Crisp [31.…”

The consistency of behavior, a study in Personal Construct Theory

“…Bannister (1960Bannister ( , 1962 gave a group of constructs to a normative group and a mean relationship for each pair of constructs was derived. A single subject's grid could be compared to these normative relationships to obtain a measure of social deviation.…”

“…Bannister (1960) In a retest of the hypothesis (Bannister, 1965), he found that validation led to increased relationships between constructs, but invalidation produced no change, as if subjects were resisting a change that would leave them with no alternative system. However, if, of two constellations of constructs, one was validated and the other constellation repeatedly invalidated, then the appropriate increase or de crease in the relationships of constructs within the constellation occurred.…”