What characterizes the 'flight of ideas' symptom?

The 'flight of ideas' symptom is characterized by rapid shifts in thought patterns where an individual expresses a stream of thoughts that are often loosely connected or entirely disconnected. This rapid movement from one idea to another occurs so quickly that it can be challenging for others to follow the conversation. It is commonly seen in manic episodes of bipolar disorder and can lead to a sense of overwhelming clarity, yet the thoughts may lack coherence.

In contrast, continuous logical reasoning would maintain a steady and organized flow of ideas, which does not align with the fragmented nature of flight of ideas. Similarly, slow speech patterns would indicate a lack of rapid cognitive activity, and decreased motivation would suggest apathy rather than the exuberance and rapid thought associated with flight of ideas. Therefore, the defining feature of this symptom is indeed the presence of disconnected thoughts traversing at a quick pace.