Repetition in Schizophrenic Speech

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Abstract
Previous research on language with the Type-Token Ratio (TTR) indicates an increased repetitiousness in schizophrenics, specifically in thought-disordered schizophrenics. The present investigation involves an analysis of oral language samples utilizing a variety of repetition measures. Subjects were 40 schizophrenics, 20 affective disorder controls and 22 normal controls. Phrase repetitions were found to be more prevalent among the schizophrenic group, and especially among the TD subgroup, and indices of phrase repetition were positively correlated with dimensions of formal thought disorder. The frequency patterns of repeated words in schizophrenic language reflect a less common, but not unusual lexicon compared to controls, thereby supporting the view that word repetition in schizophrenic utterance is not a consequence of a restricted vocabulary range. The intervals between phrase repetitions were not different for schizophrenics and controls, indicating that simple perseveration is also not a likely explanation. Rather, repetitiousness, a major characteristic of schizophrenic speech, may be due to a unique, yet undetermined mechanism responsible for the language disturbances seen in this disorder.