The disorder involves an inability to maintain a coherent train of thought, but rather skips from one idea to the next. An individual with schizophrenia may have difficulty in suppressing irrelevant thoughts and or external stimuli. For example, while we can mind attention to our company's voice in a crowded restaurant, a sufferer of schizophrenia is "crippled at this basic task" (Mcghie and Chapman, 1961 in Fleury, pg88). They hear, see, and feel excess stimuli because they can't exclude what is extraneous. Many psychologists believe disorganized thoughts are the result of a breakdown in selective attention (Myers, 2001, pg 556). Psychiatrist Blueler recognized this disorganized thinking in his patient's words:.
I am writing on paper. The pen I am using from a factory called "Perry and Co." The factory is in England. I assume this. Behind the name of Perry Co., the city of London is inscribed; but not the city. The city of London is in England. I know this from my school days. Then, I always like geography. My teacher was a man with black eyes. There are also blue and gray eyes and other sorts. I've heard snakes have green eyes.
A loss in personal contact is prevalent is schizophrenia as well, and a withdrawal from other people becomes a common feature of the disorder. The social withdrawal has drastic consequences. The individual begins to develop "an inner world that becomes more and more private and less and less in contact with the social world." (Gleitman, 1999, pg 770). As a result, the schizophrenic's thoughts become idiosyncratic, personal, and distinctive. They have trouble communicating with others and any rebuff or denial of their thoughts by the outside society will lead to further withdrawal and further idiosyncrasy, "until the patent can no longer distinguish between his/her own thoughts and fantasies and the reality shared by those around her." (Glitman, 1999, pg 770). The result: they loose touch with the world.
