thought withdrawal
A delusion in which patients believe their thoughts are being removed from their mind by an external force.
Full Definition
Thought withdrawal is a first-rank symptom of schizophrenia according to Schneider's criteria, where patients experience the delusion that their thoughts are being extracted or stolen from their mind by outside forces. This differs from thought blocking, where thoughts simply stop, as patients specifically attribute the cessation to external interference. The phenomenon represents a severe disruption in the sense of mental ownership and boundaries between self and environment. Editors should note this term is distinct from thought insertion (thoughts being placed into the mind) and thought broadcasting (thoughts being transmitted to others).
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate as 'thought withdrawal' in clinical documentation. Do not confuse with other thought disorders.
In Context
- "The patient reported experiencing thought withdrawal, stating that the CIA was removing his thoughts through radio waves." — Psychiatric assessment report
- "Schneider's first-rank symptoms include thought withdrawal, thought insertion, and thought broadcasting." — Clinical documentation