Interpretation of Ambiguous Idiomatic Statements in Schizophrenic and Depressive Patients. Evidence for Common and Differential Cognitive Patterns

Abstract

Background: This study is concerned with the comprehension of ambiguous idiomatic statements in schizophrenic and depressive patients. Aims: Using a multiple-choice procedure, we simultaneously tested the presence of concrete and literal elements in the understanding of idiomatic statements. Method: Fourteen schizophrenic and 10 patients undergoing a major depressive episode as well as 14 control subjects completed a questionnaire with 10 idiomatic expressions with two possible interpretations (figurative and literal) of equivalent prominence. The participants had to choose one word linked with the different interpretations of these idioms (figurative, literal, concrete or inappropriate meaning). Results: The main results show that, in all the subjects, the contextual characteristics of the task induced a bias in favor of figurative interpretations despite the equivalent prominence of the literal interpretations of the idioms. The selection of responses relating to the concrete meaning of a single word in the idiom constituted a response mode common to both the schizophrenic and depressed patients. Despite the contextual constraints of the task, the schizophrenics opted for the literal responses more often than the other participants. The descriptive analysis argues in favor of a cognitive and clinical heterogeneity of schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: Results support the idea that literality and concreteness in idiomatic interpretation are possibly due to distinct cognitive impairments, though only some are specific to schizophrenic patients.

Dominance of Objects over Context in a Mediotemporal Lobe Model of Schizophrenia

“…Furthermore, unusual associations have been reported [69], as well as abnormalities in processing sentential ambiguity. In line with our model, both latter abnormalities appear to result from reduced sensitivity to context and a preference for the dominant meaning of polysemic words [70]–[72]. An extensive review [73] concluded that language competence appears to be intact in schizophrenia, and that the language problems reflect more general problems in information processing.…”

Is the comprehension of idiomatic sentences indeed impaired in paranoid Schizophrenia? A window into semantic processing deficits

“…SZ patients have been reported to be more impaired in comprehending non-literal than literal language since early studies on proverbs and metaphors (Gorham, 1961 ; Kasanin, 1994 ). Impairment in the comprehension of non-literal language continues to be documented in terms of preference for literal rather than figurative interpretations and poor appreciation of irony ( literality bias ) (metaphors: Chapman, 1960 ; Cutting and Murphy, 1990 ; Spitzer, 1997 ; Drury et al, 1998 ; Langdon et al, 2002 ; Langdon and Coltheart, 2004 ; Kircher et al, 2007 ; Mashal et al, 2013 ; idioms: Titone et al, 2002 ; Iakimova et al, 2005 , 2006 , 2010 ; Schettino et al, 2010 ; proverbs: Gorham, 1961 ; de Bonis et al, 1997 ; Sponheim et al, 2003 ; Brüne and Bodenstein, 2005 ; Kiang et al, 2007 ; Thoma et al, 2009 ; irony: Herold et al, 2002 ; Langdon et al, 2002 ; Rapp et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Impaired figurative language comprehension has also been linked to inadequate use of contextual information to construct abstract figurative meanings (Strandburg et al, 1997 ; Kircher et al, 2007 ). However, Titone et al ( 2002 ; see also Iakimova et al, 2006 , 2010 ) questioned the idea that SZ patients necessarily exhibit a literality bias. In fact, the lexical decision study of Titone et al showed that SZ patients were as able as control subjects to use idiomatic contexts to generate idiomatic interpretations when the idiomatic meaning was literally implausible (e.g., come up roses ) but they instead failed when the idiomatic meaning was semantically ambiguous having also a literal counterpart (e.g., break the ice ).…”

What is the importance and value of research on idiom comprehension in schizophrenia?

“…Normally, the contextual constraints in communications bias listeners towards figurative interpretations of idioms. However, patients with schizophrenia often opt for the literal interpretation (Iakimova et al, 2006). It is as if people with schizophrenia seem to expect the literal meaning of ambiguous idioms, unless they are almost invariably used in a figurative manner (Schettino et al, 2010).…”