Allogia: when language and thought stop flowing.

This symptom appears in disorders such as schizophrenia, and is linked to impoverished language.

Thinking and constructing a more or less elaborate discourse may seem simple, since it is something that is done continuously. However, it is a complex and laborious process involving a large number of mental sub-processes and intermediate steps.

The vast majority of the population manages to carry out these processes successfully and to structure a coherent and coherent internal discourse. and structure a coherent and cohesive internal discourse that is which they are able to express and transmit to others through a rich and elaborate language.

However, there is a large number of people who are unable to establish a logical and comprehensible discourse. This occurs in cases in which a psychological phenomenon known as alogia a psychological phenomenon known as alogiaWhy does this happen?

What is alogia?

The alogia is an alteration of the form and content of thought and language, in the form of impoverishment in the form of impoverishment, impoverishment observable in oral discourse.

Although it is observed in language, the main impairment of people with alogia is at the level of thought.. This is revealed as illogical and uncoordinated, slowed down and with severe difficulties in abstraction. It is difficult to develop and manage different ideas, taking longer to respond to external stimulation.

Despite the many aspects it incorporates, alogia is not considered a disorder per se, but rather a disorder in its own right. is not considered a disorder per se, but a symptom of another pathology or alteration, as is the case for example withas is the case, for example, with abulia.

Associated symptoms

The most visible symptoms are the presence of decreased fluency of thought.The person with alogia has a poorly informative speech content and a reduced level of spontaneity.

The person with alogia presents a not very fluent speechThe person with alogia speaks in short communications and even in monosyllables. Speech ceases to be spontaneous and attempts to communicate with the environment are reduced, being more reactive. When it occurs, communication tends to be very concrete, repetitive and with little content and information reflected in it. It is also common for blockages and interruptions to appear in both speech and thought, losing their direction. For this reason there are often derailments, loss of association between the different components of the speech.

Another relevant aspect is the difficulty to grasp metaphors and symbolic language.The person tends to understand and use only the literal meaning of the terms.

For all that it implies, the alogia involves a high level of disruption in the sufferer's life.. Social interaction is greatly hindered, resulting in severe difficulties in family and social life. A great effect is also produced in the work environment, as well as in the rest of the vital areas of the individual.

Causes of alogia

Alogia is a symptom linked to logic, the ability to link thought, inhibit it and manage it consciously. consciously. The causes of this alteration are linked to a dysfunction in the synthesis of dopamine in specific areas of the brain, specifically the mesocortical pathway. The regions that are part of this pathway do not receive enough of this substance, which causes both alogia and other negative symptoms.

In addition to this can also occur due to the presence of lesions in the mesocortical pathway.The frontal lobe is affected by a disorder in the connection of the frontal lobe with the basal ganglia or by different types of damage in the temporal lobe, specifically in Wernicke's area and in other areas related to language.

Disorders in which it appears

The alogia or poverty of thought is particularly visible in schizophreniaIt is presented as a negative symptom. In fact, it is one of the main negative symptoms of this disorder. It implies a severe reduction of the subject's basic abilities.

In addition to schizophrenia, alogia can appear in other types of disorders. For example, it is commonly found in people with dementia.. It is also not uncommon for it to appear in other types of pathologies, especially when they have psychotic features.

Finally, alogia-like manifestations have sometimes been described as an adverse reaction to some medications. as an adverse reaction to some medications or substances that reduce the level of dopamine in the brain. A classic example is the classical antipsychotics, which act by reducing the level of dopamine in a non-selective manner. While this is useful in certain nerve pathways to reduce positive symptoms, in others it can hinder and aggravate, and even generate, negative symptoms such as alogia.

Treatment

The treatment of this type of symptoms can be complex to achieve, but despite this more and more progress is being made in this regard. As in many other cases, the way to treat a symptom such as alogia will depend to a large extent on its etiology (causes)..

Taking into account that it is especially linked to schizophrenia, at the pharmacological level, atypical antipsychotics are usually used.which generate an increase in dopamine at mesocortical level by acting as serotonin antagonists in different brain nuclei (which in turn inhibits dopamine synthesis, thus inhibiting an inhibitor).

The use of derivatives of amphetamines also seems to generate positive results when the aspect to be treated is only the presence of alogia, although more research is required. This consideration should not be taken into account in the case of schizophrenia, as increased activation could generate psychotic outbreaks and positive symptoms.

At the psychological level the use of different types of therapies is recommended depending on the origin of these symptoms.. Regardless of the specific programs used, in general, psychosocial rehabilitation and psychoeducation are useful both for the individual and for the environment to have tools and guidelines for action. Training in social and problem-solving skills may also be helpful.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association (2002). DSM-IV-TR. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Spanish edition. Barcelona: Masson. (Original in English 2000).

• Desai, N., Gangadhar, B.N., Pradhan, N. & Channabasavanna, S.M. (1984). Treatment of negative schizophrenia with d-amphetamine. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 723-724.

• Santos, J.L. (2012). Psychopathology. Manual CEDE de Preparación PIR, 01. CEDE. Madrid.