People who can’t stop talking sometimes just have a glass too deep. But sometimes there is a serious illness behind it: logorrhea. A psychiatrist explains to FITBOOK what the pathological talkativeness is all about and how best to deal with those affected.
Anyone who speaks without a period or comma does not master one thing: the fine art of conversation. Because then you would let the other person have their say. However, people with an increased urge to talk annoy their fellow human beings with trivialities, wrapped in a never-ending torrent of words. The compulsive urge to communicate excessively verbally can, as is well known, occur in connection with alcohol – but it can also be an expression of a serious illness: logorrhea, also known as polyphrasia in technical terms.
Possible causes of logorrhea
Diseases of the thyroid gland or dementia are possible causes of pathological talkativeness. Logorrhea can also be the result of a stroke. Sometimes a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or a bipolar disorder hides behind it. Those affected then fluctuate between mania and depression, so they are sometimes very sad, sometimes super happy.
The causes of mania or schizophrenia is the subject of intensive research. Striking: There are family clusters, so there is a certain hereditary proportion. However, this is not always the case. The Berlin psychiatrist Dr. Achim Köhler explains to FITBOOK: «Phases of illness can be triggered by stressful experiences such as the death or serious illness of relatives or loss of employment, but there are also episodes of illness without a recognizable cause.»
But what happens in the brain when someone in mania can’t stop talking? Ultimately, it can be assumed that mania involves biochemical processes at the cellular level. «Then the neurotransmitters, i.e. the messenger substances that transmit the excitation of one nerve cell to the next, are impaired,» says Köhler.
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How is mania manifested?
A typical sign of mania is an increase in drive. Those affected are then hyperactive. You also have thoughts and ideas racing through your head. Doctors call the symptom «flight of ideas». And that is also reflected in an increased and incoherent flow of speech. “In the end, logorrhea reflects what is going on in the mind of those affected. This is often incomprehensible to outsiders,” says Köhler.
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Can logorrhea or polyphrase be treated?
If someone has had a glass too many, the morbid urge to talk usually subsides when the person concerned sobers up. In the case of severe logorrhea, however, those affected should see a neurologist or psychiatrist. If mania is behind it, the treatment is complex. The focus is on medication, psychotherapy and sociotherapy.
Polyphrasia can sometimes be difficult to treat. Reason: Manics usually don’t even notice their illness. Many of those affected can get involved in appropriate treatment offers. «But there are also cases in which there is no insight into the illness and in which compulsory admissions are required if the illness poses a risk to oneself and others,» explains Dr. Charcoal burner. Then forced medication may be necessary.
With good reason, such a serious measure is only possible under clear legal requirements. A decision by the court is required after a psychiatric report has been submitted. Important: The person concerned must endanger themselves or others through their aggressive behavior.
How do you appropriately interrupt those affected?
Anyone who hasn’t had a chance to speak knows that it’s difficult to stop someone who has so much on their mind. In such a case, Köhler advises: “It is best to give clear feedback that you cannot follow the flow of thought and that it also makes no sense to you. You should also express that you care about the person and don’t want to reject them and that it is best if they get professional help and you want to help with that.»