Someone I know goes off on tangents in everyday conversation. Is this a sign of mental illness?

Question:

For example, it is typical for him to start listing musicians if we are talking about music, listing restaurants if we are talking about food, listing people we knew in college if we're talking about school, teams if we're talking about sports. You get the idea.

He will venture off the course of conversation or even off his own point in order to start what I call "listing." I've talked to him about this many times and he agrees that he's going off on tangents but he doesn' seem to be able to control it. He is 46 years old and in great health. What's up?

Answers:
When he start listing ask him the purpose of listing. When he finished telling the reasons or does not give any reasons just talk in detail about list till he figure out himself why he is doing it. Sometime when you let the person figure out why he is doing will give him the best way how not to do it. Give total attention when he does that. Then he will start realising and will find out a way why he is doing it.
If there are stories attached to listing that he wants to share but cannot recall in detail or just want to be part of conversation or just needs to showcase his prowess in the subject or feeling inadequate and trying to hide with his lists. lots of reasons that might make him to do this.

Other Answers:
Sounds like nervousness. Doesnt feel comfortable and talks to fast. Just try to make him feel more comfortable. Doesnt sound like mental illness.

This sounds like social anxiety. A lot of times, people that have a problem with groups of people, even close friends, see the need to prove themselves in social situations. They mostly handle one on one situations well, but when multiple people, or in places where other may be watching or listening, these people may start to blather on, saying things that may be relevant, but are not necessarily needed in the conversation.
Source(s):
10 years of constant study of Mental Defect.

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Someone I know goes off on tangents in everyday conversation. Is this a sign of mental illness?

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