THOUGHT AND PERCEPTION

1. Evaluation of Thought Process (the way a person thinks)

a. Thought Rate (Inferred based on the rate of speech)
Rapid
Slow
Appropriate
b. Thought Flow (connectedness of thinking)
Logical: if there are clear & easily understood connections
between thoughts
Disjointed: when these connections are unclear and difficult to
understand
c. Thought Form (refers to the way (form) in which thoughts are
expressed)
Concrete: inability to think beyond the most overt thinking
Impoverished: little meaningful information contained in the
conversation
Overly inclusive: excessive, irrelevant details
Abnormalities in Thought Process
- Tangentiality
- Circumstantiality
- Flight of ideas
- Loosening of associations
- Word salad
- Perseveration
- Clang associations
- Echolalia
- Non-sequiturs
- Neologisms
- Thought blocking

2. Evaluation of Thought Content (what a person thinks)

a. Any suicidal ideation, intent, and plan
b. Any homicidal ideation, intent, and plan
c. Delusional thought content, and the manner in which delusional beliefs
impact on the persons life or behavior
d. The content of Auditory hallucinations, if any
e. The presence of Command hallucinations
Abnormalities in Thought Content
- Obsessions
- Compulsions
- Phobias
- Delusions (content & impact on behavior must be described)

Ideas of reference
Ideas of influence
Thought insertion / thought broadcasting / thought withdrawal
Suicidal ideation, intent, and plan (describe fully)
Homicidal ideation, intent, and plan (describe fully)

3. Evaluation of Perception
a. Hallucinations (Auditory / Visual / Gustatory / Tactile / Olfactory)
b. Illusions
c. Depersonalization
d. De-realization