flight of ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

"flight of ideas" is a correct and usable phrase in English.
It's often used in psychology and psychiatry to describe a symptom of cognitive decline and/or mental illness in which a person rapidly moves from one thought to the next. For example, you could say "The patient exhibited a flight of ideas, constantly jumping from one topic to another without any obvious logical connection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Dr von Stumm explained that the test would look at how quickly people responded to stimuli such as being asked whether "they have their head in the clouds", and will probe their "flight of ideas".

Independent

Later, the Swiss psychiatrist Ludwig Binswanger, in one of his celebrated works, Über Ideenflucht (1933; "On the Flight of Ideas"), inspired by Heidegger's thought, viewed the origin of mental illness as a failure in the existential possibilities that constitute human existence (Dasein).

Britannica

On May 2016 after the manifestation of marked anxiety, flight of ideas, pressured speech, decreased ability to concentrate, insomnia, and persecutory delusions, she came to our attention and was admitted at our unit where lithium carbonate was reintroduced (16 days after its suspension) (re-challenge).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Flight of ideas is typical of mania.

Wikipedia

The scientific study feels like synchronicity, coming so close on the heels of my flight of ideas.

Huffington Post

I'm sorry if we do that quietly, instead of having a unfiltered stream of consciousness and flight of ideas.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Other symptoms including elevated mood, irritability, grandiosity, decreased sleep need, talkativeness, flight of idea, distractibility, hyperactivity, excessive involvement in activity, and hallucination were observed at similar rates in both groups.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Flights of ideas and gossip, riffs of enthusiasm, indignation, then repose.

The Guardian

"Flights of ideas and gossip, riffs of enthusiasm, indignation, then repose; latent violence, subverted by a childlike smile.

The New Yorker

Here are rocket-flights of ideas from 29 remarkable thinkers, essays and interviews collected from the magazine New Perspectives Quarterly.

Los Angeles Times

More Die of Heartbreak, Saul Bellow (Morrow), is "a loquacious, brilliant, entertaining book, mixing long flights of ideas with comic scenes that say a lot about the 'entanglements' of 'serious' men and calculating, ditsy, depraved, physically disgusting and piteously needy women". Bellow "really likes women rather in the way a preacher really likes sin" (Leonard Michaels).

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a patient's mental state, use "flight of ideas" to specifically denote the rapid shifting between unrelated topics, often seen in manic episodes. Be sure to contextualize it with other observed symptoms for a more accurate assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "flight of ideas" to describe creative brainstorming or imaginative thinking. This term specifically refers to a symptom of mental illness characterized by a disorganized and often incoherent thought process, not simply a burst of innovative ideas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flight of ideas" primarily functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific psychological symptom. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to describe a symptom of cognitive decline and/or mental illness in which a person rapidly moves from one thought to the next. It is commonly used to denote a rapid transition between disconnected or loosely connected thoughts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flight of ideas" is a well-established term primarily used in the fields of psychology and psychiatry to describe a specific symptom characterized by a rapid and often incoherent shifting between thoughts. As Ludwig AI explains, it signifies a cognitive process where an individual jumps from one topic to another without any clear logical connection. Ludwig examples show that this phrase is commonly found in news articles, scientific publications, and encyclopedic entries, indicating its relevance across various formal contexts. While grammatically sound, it's important to use it accurately, avoiding its application to general creativity or brainstorming. Instead, reserve it for clinical descriptions of disordered thought processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

racing thoughts

Focuses more on the speed of the thoughts themselves, rather than the shifting nature.

tangential thinking

Highlights the indirectness and deviation from the main topic in thought patterns.

loosening of associations

Emphasizes the weakened connections between thoughts, leading to incoherence.

thought disorder

A broader term encompassing various abnormalities in thinking processes.

pressure of speech

Highlights the rapid and incessant speech often accompanying a flight of ideas.

incoherent thought

Focuses on the lack of clarity and logical connection in thinking.

scattered thoughts

Suggests a lack of focus and organization in one's thinking.

rapid ideation

Highlights the quick succession of ideas, a core component of flight of ideas.

mental derailment

Suggests a sudden and unexpected shift in the course of one's thoughts.

thought fragmentation

Implies a breakdown in the structure and coherence of thoughts.

FAQs

How is "flight of ideas" typically manifested in speech?

A "flight of ideas" often presents as rapid speech that jumps from one topic to another with loose or no apparent connections. The speaker might be difficult to follow, and their thoughts may seem disjointed or tangential.

What mental health conditions are commonly associated with a "flight of ideas"?

"Flight of ideas" is most frequently associated with mania or hypomania, often seen in bipolar disorder. It can also occur in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

What is the difference between "racing thoughts" and "flight of ideas"?

While both involve rapid thinking, "racing thoughts" primarily refer to the speed of thoughts, whereas "flight of ideas" emphasizes the rapid shifting between different, often unrelated, topics. You can use "racing thoughts" to describe speed of thoughts without necessarily implying incoherence.

Are there any other symptoms that often accompany a "flight of ideas"?

Yes, other common symptoms include pressured speech, distractibility, increased activity, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, and elevated mood. This cluster of symptoms helps differentiate "flight of ideas" from normal thought processes.