Read the passage and answer the questions:
Anita is often found talking to herself alone. Her family is concerned because they have seen a gradual decline in her social life. She has stopped meeting her friends and chooses to stay inside, fantasizing about her idea of new world wherein she is the creator of a utopian territory with absolute law. A friend suggested that they take her to a therapist for treatment. It was observed that whenever she was approached by someone for a conversation, she would get agitated and blame them for stealing her ideas and thoughts. She is not able to think logically. She speaks in a peculiar way. Her situation is affecting both her social and personal life; the disturbed thought process is disrupting her basic functioning and thought process.
According to symptoms discussed above, communication is extremely difficult for Anita, her thinking is muddled, and she repeats the same thoughts again and again while talking. This peculiar way of speaking and thinking is termed as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Formal Thought Disorders
Option (1) Formal Thought Disorders — Correct. People with schizophrenia may not be able to think logically and may speak in peculiar ways. These formal thought disorders make communication extremely difficult. They include loosening of associations, when the structure of thinking is muddled, and perseveration, the persistent repetition of the same thoughts, both seen in Anita.
Option (2) Catatonia — Incorrect. Catatonia is the extreme form of psychomotor symptoms: people may remain motionless and silent for long stretches (catatonic stupor), keep a rigid posture for hours, or hold awkward positions. It concerns movement, not speech and thinking.
Option (3) Olfactory Hallucinations — Incorrect. These are false perceptions of smell, such as smelling poison or smoke. They are disorders of perception, not of the way one speaks and thinks.
Option (4) Neurodevelopmental Disorder — Incorrect. Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, appear in the early stage of development, often before the child enters school. They are a separate group of disorders, not a symptom of schizophrenia.
NCERT (2025-26): “Symptoms of Schizophrenia … People with schizophrenia may not be able to think logically and may speak in peculiar ways. These formal thought disorders can make communication extremely difficult. These include rapidly shifting from one topic to another so that the normal structure of thinking is muddled and becomes illogical (loosening of associations, derailment), inventing new words or phrases (neologisms), and persistent and inappropriate repetition of the same thoughts (perseveration).…” “…People with schizophrenia also show psychomotor symptoms. They move less spontaneously or make odd grimaces and gestures. These symptoms may take extreme forms known as catatonia.…” |