A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit for psychosis. When asked where they live, the patient responds, "That is a tough question. I live in Nevada, but I don't know where my relatives live, so I don't know if I am French or Spanish." This response is an example of
Explanation
• Tangentiality is a thought disorder characterized by a lack of observance to the main subject of discourse. The person will deviate from the topic.
• Incorrect: Loose association is a thought disorder characterized by frequent shifts between ideas or subjects.
• Incorrect: Grandiose delusion is when a person is convinced he or she has special powers or abilities or is a famous person.
• Incorrect: Distractible speech occurs when the subject is changed mid-speech in response to a stimulus.