Thinking is a highly complex mental action . Reasoning requires a large number of intermediate mental processes. In order to be able to adapt to the environment, it is necessary to be able to react and use these processes with sufficient speed to be efficient.

However, sometimes some people suffer some kind of injury or problem that makes it more difficult for them to do so, having a slowed down thought for some circumstance. These people have bradypsychia .

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What is bradypsychia?

Bradypsychia is understood as the symptom characterized by a generalized slowing down of thought processes . Bradypsychia implies a variable damage according to the degree in which it appears.

Slowdown occurs at all levels, both in terms of generating thought and setting in motion different types of actions and processes and in understanding external information .

Some of the aspects that are slowed down are the capacity of attention, the capacity of judgment and reasoning, the speed of reaction . Sometimes it can affect other aspects such as language, especially when accompanied by alogia.

Thought is slowed down by different causes. It is frequent that you wander off without reaching a conclusion , repeating the thought in question until you manage to give it an end. A certain rigidity and perseverance is also often seen.

As it is a symptom that affects the way of thinking at a general level, the affectation occurs in all areas of the person’s life.

Etiology of this symptom

The causes of bradypsychia can be multiple and varied .

At a neurological level, it can be observed that in many cases there is damage to the basal ganglia or to the connection of the cortex with these or with other subcortical pathways. Sometimes a lower volume of blood is observed in the prefrontal area of the brain, diminishing its functionality in what is called hypofrontality.

The hippocampus may also be reduced . As far as neurotransmitters are concerned, a deficit of noradrenaline and/or dopamine can lead to a decrease in alertness which in turn can lead to a slowing down of thinking. Lack of acetylcholine may also be a factor.

Another possible cause is derived from the person’s focus on certain types of thought and mental schemes, which absorb him/her and make it difficult for him/her to pay attention and react.

Disorders and situations in which it appears

Bradypsy is a symptom that can appear in a large number of situations, both in different mental disorders and in non-pathological conditions (for example, associated with drug use). Next we will see the main causes .

1. Normative aging

Once a certain age has been reached, over the years most people notice a more or less noticeable decrease in most of their mental capacities . As bones and muscles get older, memory gets worse and learning becomes slightly more complex than at other times in life. A generalised slowing down is often observed, both physically and psychologically.

2. Dementias

Bradypsy is very frequent in neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia , due to neuronal degradation and death and the greater difficulty in transmitting nerve signals.

3. Schizophrenia

Slowness of thought is a negative symptom of schizophrenia, which is often linked to alogia .

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4. Major depression

The fact of focusing on negative thoughts, the hopelessness and the feeling of lack of control suffered by depressed subjects makes it more difficult for them in the long run to concentrate on and react to stimulation , being another context in which bradypsychia appears.

5. Substance use

Many drugs have depressant effects on the nervous system , sometimes even having narcotic effects. Psycholeptic or depressive substances often cause a slowing down of thinking as a direct effect of consumption (both short and long term) or as an effect of intoxication.

Treatment

Bradypsychia is not a disorder in itself, but a symptom , appearing in response to certain injuries or disorders. The treatment to be used will depend on the cause.

In the case of major depression and schizophrenia, the symptoms may improve to a greater or lesser extent based on the psychological and/or pharmacological therapy applied. In the case of schizophrenia the application of atypical antipsychotics can be very useful even with negative symptoms such as bradypsychia.

In other cases where bradypsychia is directly caused by neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia treatment tends to be palliative and based on preserving the subject’s functionality. Some drugs may help to delay the symptoms, including bradypsychia.

Bibliographic references:

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Fifth edition. DSM-V. Masson, Barcelona.
  • Rodés, J. (2007). Libro de la salud del Hospital Clínic de Barcelona y la Fundación BBVA. Barcelona.
  • Santos, J.L. (2012). Psychopathology. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 01. Madrid.