A patient provides minimal verbal responses and has reduced speech output. What term describes this?

A patient provides minimal verbal responses and has reduced speech output. What term describes this?

• A. Alogia
• B. Aphasia
• C. Agraphia
• D. Anomia

Answer: (A)

Poverty of speech, or alogia, is shown by markedly reduced speech output and brief, limited responses. It’s a negative symptom often seen in schizophrenia, reflecting decreased spontaneity and thought productivity. In this scenario, the patient gives minimal verbal responses and speaks little, which fits alogia. Aphasia would involve impaired language ability from brain injury, affecting both comprehension and production of speech. Agraphia is specifically difficulty with writing. Anomia is trouble recalling the names of objects. These don’t match the described behavior as closely as alogia does.

Poverty of speech, or alogia, is shown by markedly reduced speech output and brief, limited responses. It’s a negative symptom often seen in schizophrenia, reflecting decreased spontaneity and thought productivity. In this scenario, the patient gives minimal verbal responses and speaks little, which fits alogia.

Aphasia would involve impaired language ability from brain injury, affecting both comprehension and production of speech. Agraphia is specifically difficulty with writing. Anomia is trouble recalling the names of objects. These don’t match the described behavior as closely as alogia does.