Pressure of speech
Encyclopedia
Pressure of speech is a tendency to speak rapidly and frenziedly, as if motivated by an urgency not apparent to the listener. The speech produced, sometimes called pressured speech, is difficult to interrupt and may be too fast or too tangential for the listener to understand; it is an example of cluttered speech
. It can be unrelating, loud and without pauses. (Videbeck 2010) It is a hallmark of mania
and is often seen during manic periods in patients with bipolar disorder
. The pace of the speech indicates an underlying thought disorder known as “flight of ideas” where the information going through the person’s head is so fast that it is difficult to follow their train of thought.
People with schizophrenia
, as well as anyone experiencing extreme anxiety
, may also exhibit pressure of speech. Pressure of speech usually refers to the improperly verbalized speech which is a feature of hypomanic and manic illness.
Psychopharmacologically, psychostimulants, such as dextroamphetamine
("Dexedrine"), Adderall
, etc. are notable for their potential effect of stimulating "pressured speech" in susceptible individuals with pre-existent psychopathology and producing hypomanic or manic symptoms in general.
Cluttering
is a speech disorder that is related to pressure of speech in that the speech of a clutterer sounds improperly verbalized, but cluttering is a distinct language disorder
, whereas pressure of speech is a symptom of mania, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Even though cluttering sounds almost identical to pressure of speech, it differs in that pressure of speech is rooted in anxiety, where cluttering is not.
Pressure of speech is an instance of tachylalia
, or rapid speech. Pressure of speech is also variously related to agitolalia, agitophasia, tachyphasia, and verbomania.
It may also lead to the development of a stutter. The person's need or pressure to speak causes them to involuntarily stutter. Therefore the person's need to express themselves is greater than their ability to vocalise their thoughts. If a stutter is persistent it may become chronic.
Cluttered speech
Cluttered speech is a common term for speech that becomes broken down, cluttered, or unintelligible due to a variety of reasons. Cluttered speech is often described as hurried, nervous, broken down, stuttering, stammering, and cluttering...
. It can be unrelating, loud and without pauses. (Videbeck 2010) It is a hallmark of mania
Mania
Mania, the presence of which is a criterion for certain psychiatric diagnoses, is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal, and/ or energy levels. In a sense, it is the opposite of depression...
and is often seen during manic periods in patients with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
. The pace of the speech indicates an underlying thought disorder known as “flight of ideas” where the information going through the person’s head is so fast that it is difficult to follow their train of thought.
People with schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, as well as anyone experiencing extreme anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
, may also exhibit pressure of speech. Pressure of speech usually refers to the improperly verbalized speech which is a feature of hypomanic and manic illness.
Psychopharmacologically, psychostimulants, such as dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine
Dextroamphetamine is a psychostimulant drug which is known to produce increased wakefulness and focus as well as decreased fatigue and decreased appetite....
("Dexedrine"), Adderall
Adderall
Adderall is a brand name of amphetamine salts–based medication used for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. It is a brand-name psychostimulant medication composed of racemic amphetamine aspartate monohydrate, racemic amphetamine sulfate, dextroamphetamine saccharide, and...
, etc. are notable for their potential effect of stimulating "pressured speech" in susceptible individuals with pre-existent psychopathology and producing hypomanic or manic symptoms in general.
Cluttering
Cluttering
Cluttering is a speech disorder and a communication disorder characterized by speech that is difficult for listeners to understand due to rapid speaking rate, erratic rhythm, poor syntax or grammar, and words or groups of words unrelated to the sentence...
is a speech disorder that is related to pressure of speech in that the speech of a clutterer sounds improperly verbalized, but cluttering is a distinct language disorder
Language disorder
Language disorders or language impairments are disorders that involve the processing of linguistic information. Problems that may be experienced can involve grammar , semantics , or other aspects of language...
, whereas pressure of speech is a symptom of mania, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Even though cluttering sounds almost identical to pressure of speech, it differs in that pressure of speech is rooted in anxiety, where cluttering is not.
Pressure of speech is an instance of tachylalia
Tachylalia
Tachylalia or tachylogia is extremely rapid speech. Tachylalia occurs in many clutterers and many people who have speech disorders.Tachylalia is a generic term for speaking fast, and does not need to coincide with other speech problems...
, or rapid speech. Pressure of speech is also variously related to agitolalia, agitophasia, tachyphasia, and verbomania.
It may also lead to the development of a stutter. The person's need or pressure to speak causes them to involuntarily stutter. Therefore the person's need to express themselves is greater than their ability to vocalise their thoughts. If a stutter is persistent it may become chronic.