Seven Signs Of Disorganized Behavior And How They Can Affect You

Disorganized behavior—a set of symptoms that is often indicative of disorganized schizophrenia—can have a significant effect on the life of the individual exhibiting it. It is marked by conduct that may be considered socially unacceptable, irrational, or self-destructive. If you’re concerned that you or someone you know might be displaying disorganized behavior, knowing how to recognize the signs can be important. By knowing what to look for, you may be able to address the symptoms before they become too extreme or interfere with your ability to live a healthy, happy life. Below, we’re going to cover disorganized behavior—its symptoms, effects, and treatment. 

What is disorganized behavior?

According to the American Psychological Association, disorganized behavior is “behavior that is self-contradictory or inconsistent”. You may notice disorganized behavior in a person who noticeably does not maintain a consistent personality but rather acts against their best interest or engages in self-sabotage.

Some examples of disorganized behavior include:

• Being worried about and responding to internal stimuli rather than external stimuli, speaking to oneself, arguing with oneself, or smiling and laughing openly for no clear reason

• Behavior or movements that have no clear purpose or cause

• Unprovoked anger 

• Socially inappropriate behavior

• Childlike actions (e.g., crawling, laughing, singing, shouting)

Disorganized behavior is characteristic of schizophrenia, a mental health condition that affects less than 1% of the United States population. Specifically, it is a sign of disorganized schizophrenia, one of two common subtypes of schizophrenia (the other is known as paranoid schizophrenia). The common signs and symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into three categories:

*Note: When psychologists refer to positive or negative symptoms, they do not mean positive in the sense that they are beneficial, but rather in the sense that they add to a person’s daily experience or perception of reality. Negative symptoms refer to symptoms that take away from a person’s experience or their perception of reality.

• Positive symptoms: such as delusion; hallucinations; disorganized speech; paranoia; exaggerated or distorted perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors

• Negative symptoms: disorganized speech, anhedonia (the inability to enjoy experiences or sensations), trouble focusing

• Disorganized symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disordered thought patterns

Disorganized behavior tends to manifest itself in difficulty completing undertakings due to trouble creating and implementing a plan. An individual may not be able to start a task or might abandon it once they’ve begun. They might have difficulty running errands, cleaning their space, or doing other activities considered routine. They may also struggle with impulse control or act in unpredictable and inappropriate ways. 

Seven signs of disorganized behavior

Disorganized behavior is marked by actions that may seem out of the ordinary, irrational, or inconsistent to observers given their context. Below are seven common symptoms of disorganized behavior. It’s important to note that the presence of the following behaviors does not necessarily signal the presence of schizophrenia. If you’re concerned that you or someone you know is exhibiting disorganized behavior, a healthcare professional can provide screenings and run tests to determine whether a diagnosis and treatment are necessary.  

Derailment 

An individual who displays disorganized behavior may link together thoughts in unexpected ways. This type of disorganized cognitive processing is often called derailment due to the disconnect between thoughts. This can cause people with schizophrenia to switch subjects mid-sentence and start discussing something unrelated. In some cases these shifts in topic are related to words they’ve spoken; in others, the individual makes connections based on something they observe or think about. Regardless of its source, derailment can make it hard to follow someone living with schizophrenia and lead to miscommunications. 

Trouble communicating

In addition to the subject-switching characteristic of derailment, there are many other ways disorganized behavior makes it hard for an individual with disorganized schizophrenia to communicate effectively. They may speak in incomplete sentences, trail off while talking, or answer you with a non-sequitur. This is often related to distractibility (which we’ll discuss below) and difficulty organizing thoughts. 

Word approximations and clanging

People who live with disorganized schizophrenia often have trouble selecting the right word to use, which can cause them to use an incomplete word or a similar sounding, but incorrect, word. Word approximation occurs when a person uses words in an unconventional manner. For example, they may refer to a lamp as a “light machine”. 

Clanging, another form of disorganized speech, happens when the individual uses words that rhyme or sound similar, regardless of whether they make sense in the context of a sentence. For example, they might say, “I went for a walk with my dog, a frog, a log”. A person with disorganized behavior might also create new words to describe or explain something that already exists. 

Purposeless movements 

Because individuals with disorganized behavior often struggle to develop and execute plans, their actions may seem aimless at times. They might pace around frequently or distract themselves with things that aren’t related to the task at hand. These individuals may be ambivalent with their behavior or motions and might make extraneous gestures or seemingly purposeless movements.

Child-like behaviors 

People with disorganized schizophrenia can often be irreverent, irritable, energetic, and silly. They may seem to be acting in an infantile manner and have trouble doing anything serious or focused. 

Socially inappropriate behaviors 

Another aspect of disorganized behavior is that the individual may engage in inappropriate behavior. They may act in ways that are completely out of touch with what is socially allowed or accepted. They may be sexually promiscuous or entirely inappropriate. They may make lewd or inappropriate comments or gestures or be completely inappropriate in their dress. This could mean being sexually inappropriate or wearing overly disheveled clothes. They could become agitated or anxious with little to no provocation, and they could jump from different behaviors and extremes very quickly or without warning.

Frequent distractibility

Psychosis can cause an individual to struggle staying on topic. They may become distracted by things going on around them, which—as discussed above—can lead to them changing the subject or speaking in non-sequiturs. Distractibility often creates problems in academic settings and the workplace, where the individual may struggle to focus on tasks for extended periods of time. 

The effects of disorganized behavior

Disorganized behavior is typically a symptom of schizophrenia or a similar psychosis-related mental health condition. Disorders that are characterized by psychosis can affect how the individual interacts with people throughout their life and cause them to struggle maintaining friendships. It may become difficult for them to reach out to new people or succeed in your career. Disorganized behavior can make it especially hard to connect with a significant other. 

Treatment for disorganized behavior

Often, successful treatment approaches for disorganized behavior are centered around medication and therapy. Antipsychotic medication can help address common symptoms of disorganized thinking that may affect an individual’s behavior. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting or stopping any medication. 

Psychotherapy is a proven method of helping individuals with disorganized schizophrenia cope with the emotional effects of the condition. Therapy can help the participant see how their thoughts may be affecting their behaviors and how they can reframe those thought patterns. It can also give them the tools to better communicate with others and navigate difficult interactions. 

One of the most important ways of addressing schizophrenia is family support. If your or a loved one is living with schizophrenia, education on the symptoms and treatment of the disorder can help create a supportive, caring environment. Family helps the individual stick to their treatment, be a listening ear when they need it, and provide encouragement.  

How online therapy can help

Studies show that online therapy can help participants address individual mental health symptoms, such as those related to disorganized behavior, while also working through relationship struggles. For example, in a study of 300 couples, researchers found that online therapy led to increased relationship satisfaction and improved individual mental well-being. Participants reported experiencing several improvements related to disorganized behavior, including their ability to perform at work, reduce anxiety, and enhance their quality of life. 

If you or your partner is experiencing disorganized behavior, consider working with a licensed therapist through an online therapy platform like Regain. With online therapy, you and your partner can participate in therapy remotely, which can be helpful if symptoms like derailment make commuting to an office hard. You’ll also have the option of contacting your therapist outside of sessions; so, if you have a question about navigating disorganized behavior in your relationship or want to clarify a point made during therapy, you can message your therapist, and they’ll respond when they’re able. 

Takeaway

Disorganized behavior can seriously impair one’s ability to be productive, foster healthy relationships, and thrive. By keeping in mind the above signs of disorganized behavior, you may be able to recognize it in yourself or your partner. If you’d like to address challenges related to disorganized behavior or its effects, consider reaching out to a mental health professional online. Your emotional well-being is important, and with the right support, you can help it flourish.