Which term describes a rapid flow of speech with abrupt changes in topic, commonly found in manic episodes?

The term that describes a rapid flow of speech with abrupt changes in topic, commonly observed in manic episodes, is known as "flight of ideas." This phenomenon is characterized by a person speaking quickly and jumping from one thought to another, often making it challenging for listeners to follow the train of thought. It reflects an underlying elevated mood and heightened energy level, which are hallmark features of mania.

In contrast to flight of ideas, derailment refers to a disorganized pattern of thought where the individual may lose track of the original topic but does not maintain the same rapid pace. Circumstantiality involves excessive detail and delay in providing the main point of conversation, which is quite different from the quick topic shifts of flight of ideas. Incoherence indicates speech that is difficult to understand and lacks logical connection, which can also occur in severe forms of thought disorder but is less indicative of the rapid, dynamic speech patterns seen in manic episodes. Thus, flight of ideas most accurately captures the described rapid speech pattern common in mania.