Definition, signs to spot, possible causes, diagnosis and treatment: here is the essential thing to know to understand this language disorder and know when to consult.
Talking a lot is not necessarily harmless. In some people, speech becomes continuous, rapid, difficult to interrupt, to the point of hindering exchanges. This phenomenon, called logorrhea, often intrigues those around you, who struggle to understand whether it is a simple character trait or a sign of an underlying disorder. Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment… here is what you need to know to better identify this manifestation and know when it requires medical advice.
Definition: what is verbal logorrhea?
Logorrhea refers to an almost irrepressible need to speak. The speech rate increases significantly, with long speeches that are sometimes difficult to interrupt. This phenomenon is often associated with tachyphemia, which corresponds to an acceleration in the rhythm of language: words follow one another very quickly, to the point of sometimes becoming difficult for the interlocutor to follow. Logorrhea is not a disease in itself, but a symptom. When isolated, it has no pathological character and can simply reflect a personality trait or a form of distancing from emotions. On the other hand, if it is accompanied by other psychiatric or neurological signs, it may be part of a clinical picture requiring medical evaluation.
What are the symptoms of logorrhea?
The manifestations of logorrhea are easily identifiable. Logorrheic people talk a lot and for a long time with a speech that can be disjointed and go from cock to donkey : we sometimes talk about leaks of ideas. It is often accompanied by tachyphemia, an acceleration of the flow of speech, particularly in cases of psychiatric pathology. It is often impossible to cut off or interrupt a person with logorrhea and it is not uncommon for them to use puns or invented words (neologisms). It is rarely isolated but most often associated with mood disorders, neurological symptoms or taking toxins.
What are the causes of logorrhea?
Logorrhea can be a symptom of a psychiatric condition: acute delusional burst, manic state of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, or hyperactivity For example. In this case it is often associated with tachypsychia, that is to say an acceleration of the course of thought. It can also be present in the event of consumption of psychotropic drugs or alcohol, mental retardation or neurological disease such as Wernicke’s aphasia, hydrocephalus, Parkinson’s disease, frontal syndrome or dementia.
How to diagnose logorrhea?
The diagnosis of logorrhea results from a simple observation, which is often established by loved ones. A family of people who are manic or suffering from bipolar disorder easily identifies their parent’s passage into a manic phase. Then, it is all the psychiatric and neurological symptoms, as well as the context, which make it possible to make a diagnosis of the cause. Additional examinations such as blood test to look for toxic substances, a CT scan or MRI of the brain may be requested to aid in diagnosis.
When to consult?
The logorrheic person does not always realize their disorder. This is why those around you must be attentive and encourage the person to consult quickly in the event of the appearance of logorrheaespecially if there are associated neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Logorrhea is a symptom often present in chronic psychiatric and neurological illnesses. The person does not realize their disorder, which is why it is important to regularly explain to them what is happening to them to try to contain their verbal flow. The role of those around you is essential to help the logorrheic person.
What to do in case of logorrhea?
To “treat” logorrhea, you must take the symptoms in context. The treatment will differ depending on whether we are dealing with a patient suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcohol intoxication or a neurological disease such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease. In the context of psychiatric disorders, antipsychotic treatment or mood stabilizer can be put in place, as well as a regular follow-up by a psychiatrist. If it is a neurological disease, specific treatment for dementia or Parkinson’s disease for example can be proposed, as well assupport from a neuropsychologist and a speech therapisteven if their effectiveness remains limited.
