Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
alogia
Pronunciation: ah-LOH-gee-ah
Poverty of speech; a negative symptom of schizophrenia characterized by reduced speech output or content.
Full Definition
Alogia refers to diminished speech output that can manifest as brief, laconic replies to questions or reduced spontaneous speech. This negative symptom of schizophrenia differs from mutism in that the patient can speak but produces significantly less verbal content than expected. Editors should distinguish this from simple shyness or cultural communication patterns, as alogia represents a pathological reduction in speech productivity that impacts functional communication.
Usage
Usage note: Often confused with mutism; alogia specifically refers to reduced quantity or content of speech, not complete absence.
In Context
- "The patient exhibited marked alogia, providing only monosyllabic responses during the interview." — Psychiatric assessment report
- "Alogia improved significantly after three weeks of antipsychotic treatment." — Progress note
Also known as
poverty of speech
reduced speech output
Contrasted with
logorrhea
pressured speech
verbosity
Don't confuse with
mutism
selective mutism
thought blocking