Pressure of speech

Overview
Pressure of speech is a tendency to speak rapidly and frenziedly, as if motivated by an urgency not apparent to the listener. The speech produced, sometimes called pressured speech, is difficult to interrupt and may be too fast or too tangential for the listener to understand--it is an example of cluttered speech. It is a hallmark of mania and is often seen in bipolar patients during manic periods. People with schizophrenia, as well as anyone experiencing extreme anxiety, may also exhibit pressure of speech. Pressure of speech usually refers to the improperly verbalized speech which is a feature of hypomanic and manic illness.

Cluttering is a speech disorder that is related to pressure of speech in that the speech of a clutterer sounds improperly verbalized, but cluttering is a distinct language disorder, whereas pressure of speech is a symptom of mania, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Even though cluttering sounds almost identical to pressure of speech, it differs in that pressure of speech is rooted in anxiety, where cluttering is not.

Pressure of speech is an instance of tachylalia, which is a term for rapid speech. Pressure of speech is also variously related to agitolalia, agitophasia, tachyphasia, and verbomania.

References in popular culture

 * In the film Clue (1985), Mrs. Peacock is diagnosed with pressure of speech by Professor Plum.
 * The film Shine (1996), a biography of the pianist David Helfgott, depicts Helfgott's pressure of speech stemming from his schizoaffective disorder.