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Linguistics, Human Communication and Psychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Philip Thomas*
Affiliation:
Academic Sub-Department of Psychiatry, North Wales Hospital
William Fraser
Affiliation:
Academic Sub-Department of Psychiatry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
*
Dr P. Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Ysbyty, Gwynedd LL57 2TW

Abstract

Background

Psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics have extended our understanding of the abnormal communication seen in psychosis, as well as that of people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Psycholinguistics has the potential to increase the explanatory power of cognitive and neuropsychological approaches to psychosis and new methods of assessment and therapy are now being developed, based on linguistic theory.

Method

MEDLINE literature search was used.

Results

Of 205 relevant articles identified, 65 were selected for review.

Conclusions

Greater familiarity with linguistic theory could improve psychiatrists' assessment skills and their understanding of the relevance of human communication to the new cognitive models of psychosis.

Type
Review articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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