thought insertion
Delusion in which a person believes that thoughts are being placed into their mind by an external source.
Full Definition
Thought insertion is a first-rank symptom of schizophrenia characterized by the delusional belief that one's thoughts are not their own but are being inserted into their mind by an outside force, person, or agency. Patients experiencing thought insertion maintain that the inserted thoughts are foreign and distinctly different from their own thinking. This phenomenon is considered a disorder of thought ownership and is distinguished from thought broadcasting (belief that thoughts can be heard by others) and thought withdrawal (belief that thoughts are being removed). In psychiatric documentation, thought insertion is recorded as part of the mental status examination under thought content and perceptual disturbances.
Usage
Usage note: Document patient's exact description; distinguish from other thought disorders
In Context
- "The patient reported thought insertion, stating that the CIA was placing surveillance thoughts into his mind through radio waves." — Psychiatric evaluation
- "Thought insertion resolved after two weeks of antipsychotic medication adjustment." — Progress note