Flight of Ideas in Bipolar Disorder

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of Flight of IdeasOther Types of Thought DisordersTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Causes of Flight of Ideas

Other Types of Thought Disorders

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Flight of ideas is a symptom that involves rapid, erratic speech that switches quickly between thoughts and ideas. People who experience this symptom talk rapidly and jump from one topic to the next.Whilebipolar disorderis generally considered a mood disorder, symptoms can also include disorders of thought—particularly during manic episodes. People in amanic statemay have difficulty filtering out meaningful versus non-meaningful input and may thus respond to their environment in surprising ways.When this happens, ordinary sensory input, such as the sound of traffic or blinking lights, may become severely distracting. As a result, people experiencing mania focus attention on nonessential information.During manic episodes, it is not unusual for bipolar people to experience “racing thoughts” and “flight of ideas.“These two associated symptoms involve extremely rapid thought processes that sometimes leap from topic to topic at incredible speed.Racing thoughts and flight of ideas are also common symptoms ofschizophreniaand some cases ofADHD.Differentiating Subtypes of Bipolar DisorderCauses of Flight of IdeasFlight of ideas is not a condition. Instead, it is a symptom of bipolar mania.Maniais a period of excessively elevated mood that causes extreme shifts in mood as well as significant increases in behavior and energy levels. It is a hallmark symptom of bipolar disorder.Other factors that can play a role in flight of ideas include:Psychosis, which can occur with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s diseaseSchizophreniaSubstances such as marijuana, whichcan cause psychosisand worsen the course of schizophreniaBipolar Disorder vs. ADHDOther Types of Thought DisordersIn addition to flight of ideas, other types ofthought disorderscan occur in bipolar disorder and other conditions. Some of these include:Tangential thinking: This involves having connected thoughts but straying far from the original topic and never coming back to the original idea or point.Racing thoughts: Such thoughts occur rapidly, feel uncontrollable, and are highly distracting. This symptom can occur withbipolar disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.Thought blocking: This symptom involves a sudden halt in speech because a person forgets what they were talking about as if the idea has been blocked or removed from their mind.Loose thinking: This type of thinking involves having thoughts that are not connected and do not follow a logical train of thought.Circumstantial thinking: In this type of thought disorder, people will follow a series of connected ideas, straying far from the original topic before eventually returning to the original idea.Pressured Speech in Bipolar DisorderTreatmentThere is no specific treatment for flight of ideas, but treating the underlying condition can help with this symptom. The treatment that may help depends on the condition that an individual has been diagnosed with.Racing thoughts and flights of ideas may be relatively mild or quite severe. When the symptoms are mild, it may be possible to use simple calming techniques such as:Meditation: Meditation is a proven technique for self-calmingDeep breathing exercises: The physical act of deep breathing can often calm both mind and bodyGuided visualization: Tapes are available to help refocus racing thoughts to calmer thoughtsDistraction: Watching television or otherwise distracting one’s mind from the racing thoughtsAdequate sleep: There is an important connection between sleep and mental healthStress management: Reducing stress and using coping strategies may be helpfulUnderstanding triggers: Recognizing triggers can help people avoid them or manage them more effectivelyWhen symptoms are very severe, however, the person experiencing the racing thoughts and flights of ideas will not be able to stop and focus on such exercises.In such cases, it is a good idea toconsult a doctorwho may be able to provide medication to lower anxiety and/or help manage a manic episode.Treatments for mania or psychosis may involve:Medications include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, or sleep medicationsPsychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and group therapyElectroconvulsive therapySupport groupsHelpful Online Bipolar Disorder Support GroupsFrequently Asked QuestionsWhile racing thoughts may or may not be expressed, flight of ideas involves continuous, rapid speech that changes focus from moment to moment based on association, distractions, or plays on words. Some of the time, it is possible to follow the person’s leaps of logic (especially if you know the person well).Other times, the racing thoughts are so disorganized and chaotic that even a close friend or relative will find them confusing. For example:“I am hungry. Does my dog need to go for a walk? I wonder what the weather will be tomorrow. What is the purpose of life? I should learn to play canasta. My mom should lose some weight. Wait, I forgot to pick my kids up from school.“Racing thoughts occur rapidly and can be confusing and distressing. However, racing thoughts tend to follow a logical path and are connected. Racing thoughts are often a symptom ofanxiety, and while they are common with mood and thought disorders, they also may occur in people who have no disorder but are in a stressed state.Typically, racing thoughts focus on a particular topic, often related to a stress-inducing event; for example:“My big test is tomorrow, but I don’t know the information. I could know the information if I studied more but studying also makes me feel more stressed. If I’m more stressed I’ll likely do poorly on the test but if I don’t study I’ll also do poorly and either way, I’m in trouble because this test is half my grade and if I fail I’ll fail the class which means summer school and …“Symptoms of bipolar mania include:Elevated moodImpaired judgmentChanges in thought patternsMood changesChanges in activity and energySpeech disruptions

Flight of ideas is a symptom that involves rapid, erratic speech that switches quickly between thoughts and ideas. People who experience this symptom talk rapidly and jump from one topic to the next.

Whilebipolar disorderis generally considered a mood disorder, symptoms can also include disorders of thought—particularly during manic episodes. People in amanic statemay have difficulty filtering out meaningful versus non-meaningful input and may thus respond to their environment in surprising ways.

When this happens, ordinary sensory input, such as the sound of traffic or blinking lights, may become severely distracting. As a result, people experiencing mania focus attention on nonessential information.

During manic episodes, it is not unusual for bipolar people to experience “racing thoughts” and “flight of ideas.“These two associated symptoms involve extremely rapid thought processes that sometimes leap from topic to topic at incredible speed.

Racing thoughts and flight of ideas are also common symptoms ofschizophreniaand some cases ofADHD.

Differentiating Subtypes of Bipolar Disorder

Flight of ideas is not a condition. Instead, it is a symptom of bipolar mania.Maniais a period of excessively elevated mood that causes extreme shifts in mood as well as significant increases in behavior and energy levels. It is a hallmark symptom of bipolar disorder.

Other factors that can play a role in flight of ideas include:

Bipolar Disorder vs. ADHD

In addition to flight of ideas, other types ofthought disorderscan occur in bipolar disorder and other conditions. Some of these include:

Pressured Speech in Bipolar Disorder

There is no specific treatment for flight of ideas, but treating the underlying condition can help with this symptom. The treatment that may help depends on the condition that an individual has been diagnosed with.

Racing thoughts and flights of ideas may be relatively mild or quite severe. When the symptoms are mild, it may be possible to use simple calming techniques such as:

When symptoms are very severe, however, the person experiencing the racing thoughts and flights of ideas will not be able to stop and focus on such exercises.In such cases, it is a good idea toconsult a doctorwho may be able to provide medication to lower anxiety and/or help manage a manic episode.

Treatments for mania or psychosis may involve:

Helpful Online Bipolar Disorder Support Groups

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhile racing thoughts may or may not be expressed, flight of ideas involves continuous, rapid speech that changes focus from moment to moment based on association, distractions, or plays on words. Some of the time, it is possible to follow the person’s leaps of logic (especially if you know the person well).Other times, the racing thoughts are so disorganized and chaotic that even a close friend or relative will find them confusing. For example:“I am hungry. Does my dog need to go for a walk? I wonder what the weather will be tomorrow. What is the purpose of life? I should learn to play canasta. My mom should lose some weight. Wait, I forgot to pick my kids up from school.“Racing thoughts occur rapidly and can be confusing and distressing. However, racing thoughts tend to follow a logical path and are connected. Racing thoughts are often a symptom ofanxiety, and while they are common with mood and thought disorders, they also may occur in people who have no disorder but are in a stressed state.Typically, racing thoughts focus on a particular topic, often related to a stress-inducing event; for example:“My big test is tomorrow, but I don’t know the information. I could know the information if I studied more but studying also makes me feel more stressed. If I’m more stressed I’ll likely do poorly on the test but if I don’t study I’ll also do poorly and either way, I’m in trouble because this test is half my grade and if I fail I’ll fail the class which means summer school and …“Symptoms of bipolar mania include:Elevated moodImpaired judgmentChanges in thought patternsMood changesChanges in activity and energySpeech disruptions

While racing thoughts may or may not be expressed, flight of ideas involves continuous, rapid speech that changes focus from moment to moment based on association, distractions, or plays on words. Some of the time, it is possible to follow the person’s leaps of logic (especially if you know the person well).Other times, the racing thoughts are so disorganized and chaotic that even a close friend or relative will find them confusing. For example:“I am hungry. Does my dog need to go for a walk? I wonder what the weather will be tomorrow. What is the purpose of life? I should learn to play canasta. My mom should lose some weight. Wait, I forgot to pick my kids up from school.”

Other times, the racing thoughts are so disorganized and chaotic that even a close friend or relative will find them confusing. For example:

“I am hungry. Does my dog need to go for a walk? I wonder what the weather will be tomorrow. What is the purpose of life? I should learn to play canasta. My mom should lose some weight. Wait, I forgot to pick my kids up from school.”

Racing thoughts occur rapidly and can be confusing and distressing. However, racing thoughts tend to follow a logical path and are connected. Racing thoughts are often a symptom ofanxiety, and while they are common with mood and thought disorders, they also may occur in people who have no disorder but are in a stressed state.Typically, racing thoughts focus on a particular topic, often related to a stress-inducing event; for example:“My big test is tomorrow, but I don’t know the information. I could know the information if I studied more but studying also makes me feel more stressed. If I’m more stressed I’ll likely do poorly on the test but if I don’t study I’ll also do poorly and either way, I’m in trouble because this test is half my grade and if I fail I’ll fail the class which means summer school and …”

Typically, racing thoughts focus on a particular topic, often related to a stress-inducing event; for example:

“My big test is tomorrow, but I don’t know the information. I could know the information if I studied more but studying also makes me feel more stressed. If I’m more stressed I’ll likely do poorly on the test but if I don’t study I’ll also do poorly and either way, I’m in trouble because this test is half my grade and if I fail I’ll fail the class which means summer school and …”

Symptoms of bipolar mania include:Elevated moodImpaired judgmentChanges in thought patternsMood changesChanges in activity and energySpeech disruptions

Symptoms of bipolar mania include:

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Flight of ideas.Lake CR.Disorders of thought are severe mood disorders: The selective attention defect in mania challenges the kraepelinian dichotomy—A review.Schizophr Bull. 2008;34(1):109-117. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbm035American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Roche E, Creed L, MacMahon D, Brennan D, Clarke M.The epidemiology and associated phenomenology of formal thought disorder: A systematic review.Schizophr Bull. 2015;41(4):951-962. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu129Piguet C, Dayer A, Kosel M, Desseilles M, Vuilleumier P, Bertschy G.Phenomenology of racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders: A theoretical reappraisal.J Affect Disord. 2010;121(3):189-198. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.05.006Weiner L, Weibel S, De Sousa Gurgel W, et al.Measuring racing thoughts in healthy individuals: The Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ).Compr Psychiatry. 2018;82:37-44. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.006

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Flight of ideas.Lake CR.Disorders of thought are severe mood disorders: The selective attention defect in mania challenges the kraepelinian dichotomy—A review.Schizophr Bull. 2008;34(1):109-117. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbm035American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Roche E, Creed L, MacMahon D, Brennan D, Clarke M.The epidemiology and associated phenomenology of formal thought disorder: A systematic review.Schizophr Bull. 2015;41(4):951-962. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu129Piguet C, Dayer A, Kosel M, Desseilles M, Vuilleumier P, Bertschy G.Phenomenology of racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders: A theoretical reappraisal.J Affect Disord. 2010;121(3):189-198. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.05.006Weiner L, Weibel S, De Sousa Gurgel W, et al.Measuring racing thoughts in healthy individuals: The Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ).Compr Psychiatry. 2018;82:37-44. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.006

American Psychological Association.Flight of ideas.Lake CR.Disorders of thought are severe mood disorders: The selective attention defect in mania challenges the kraepelinian dichotomy—A review.Schizophr Bull. 2008;34(1):109-117. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbm035American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Roche E, Creed L, MacMahon D, Brennan D, Clarke M.The epidemiology and associated phenomenology of formal thought disorder: A systematic review.Schizophr Bull. 2015;41(4):951-962. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu129Piguet C, Dayer A, Kosel M, Desseilles M, Vuilleumier P, Bertschy G.Phenomenology of racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders: A theoretical reappraisal.J Affect Disord. 2010;121(3):189-198. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.05.006Weiner L, Weibel S, De Sousa Gurgel W, et al.Measuring racing thoughts in healthy individuals: The Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ).Compr Psychiatry. 2018;82:37-44. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.006

American Psychological Association.Flight of ideas.

Lake CR.Disorders of thought are severe mood disorders: The selective attention defect in mania challenges the kraepelinian dichotomy—A review.Schizophr Bull. 2008;34(1):109-117. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbm035

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.

Roche E, Creed L, MacMahon D, Brennan D, Clarke M.The epidemiology and associated phenomenology of formal thought disorder: A systematic review.Schizophr Bull. 2015;41(4):951-962. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbu129

Piguet C, Dayer A, Kosel M, Desseilles M, Vuilleumier P, Bertschy G.Phenomenology of racing and crowded thoughts in mood disorders: A theoretical reappraisal.J Affect Disord. 2010;121(3):189-198. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2009.05.006

Weiner L, Weibel S, De Sousa Gurgel W, et al.Measuring racing thoughts in healthy individuals: The Racing and Crowded Thoughts Questionnaire (RCTQ).Compr Psychiatry. 2018;82:37-44. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.006

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?