verborrea

Verborrea, from Latin verbor- “word” and -rrhea “flow,” is a term used to describe excessive, continuous, and often rapid speech that is difficult to interrupt and may convey little meaningful content. It is closely related to the medical concept of logorrhea and is typically considered a symptom rather than a diagnosis. In clinical use, verborrea denotes a speech pattern that is abundant, pressured, and difficult for others to follow, often with tangential or incoherent elements.

The phenomenon occurs in a range of conditions or states. In psychiatry, it is commonly associated with manic or hypomanic episodes in bipolar disorder, where speech becomes pressured and ideas race ahead. It can also appear in some psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, as a loosening of associations and rapid, fluid speech. In neurology, language disturbances after brain injury or in aphasia can present with fluent but excessive output. Verborrea may also be observed during stimulant intoxication or other acute states. Core features include rapid, continuous talk, reduced responsiveness to questions, and a tendency to derail into irrelevant topics.

Evaluation focuses on identifying the underlying cause. Management targets the root condition and may involve mood stabilization or antipsychotic treatment in psychiatric cases, and speech-language therapy or rehabilitation in language disorders. Environmental adjustments and communication strategies can help improve interaction when verborrea is present.