pressured speech
Rapid, excessive, and difficult-to-interrupt speech pattern often associated with mania or hypomania in bipolar disorder.
Full Definition
Pressured speech is characterized by an urgent quality of speech that is faster than normal, louder in volume, and difficult for others to interrupt. The individual may speak continuously without normal pauses, often jumping between topics or showing flight of ideas. This symptom is commonly observed during manic or hypomanic episodes in bipolar disorder but can also occur in other conditions such as anxiety disorders, stimulant intoxication, or certain neurological conditions. For editors working with psychiatric literature, understanding the distinction between pressured speech and other speech abnormalities is crucial for accurate clinical documentation and patient assessment descriptions.
Usage
Usage note: Usually written as two words; avoid confusion with 'circumstantial' or 'tangential' speech patterns.
In Context
- "During the manic episode, the patient exhibited pressured speech and jumped rapidly between topics." — Psychiatric evaluation
- "The family noted that pressured speech was often the first sign of an impending mood episode." — Clinical case study