Psychosis

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is characterized by an impaired relationship with reality. It’s a symptom of serious mental disorders. People who are experiencing psychosis may have either hallucinations or delusions.

Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur within the absence of an actual stimulus. For example, a person having an auditory hallucination may hear their mother yelling at them when their mother isn’t around. Or someone having a visual hallucination may see something, like a person in front of them, who isn’t actually there.

The person experiencing psychosis may also have thoughts that are contrary to actual evidence. These thoughts are known as delusions. Some people with psychosis may also experience loss of motivation and social withdrawal.

These experiences can be frightening. They may also cause people who are experiencing psychosis to hurt themselves or others. It’s important to see a doctor right away if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of psychosis.

Recognizing the symptoms of psychosis

Symptoms of psychosis include:

• difficulty concentrating
• depressed mood
• sleeping too much or not enough
• anxiety
• suspiciousness
• withdrawal from family and friends
• delusions
• hallucinations
• disorganized speech, such as switching topics erratically
• depression
• suicidal thoughts or actions

Suicide prevention

1. If you think someone is at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting another person:
2. • Call 999 or your local emergency number.
3. • Stay with the person until help arrives.
4. • Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other things that may cause harm.
5. • Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell.
6. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline.

What are delusions and hallucinations?

Delusions and hallucinations are two very different symptoms that are both often experienced by people with psychosis. Delusions and hallucinations seem real to the person who is experiencing them.

Delusions

A delusion is a false belief or impression that is firmly held even though it’s contradicted by reality and what is commonly considered true. There are delusions of paranoia, grandiose delusions, and somatic delusions.

People who are experiencing a delusion of paranoia might think that they are being followed when they aren’t or that secret messages are being sent to them. Someone with a grandiose delusion will have an exaggerated sense of importance. Somatic delusion is when a person believes they have a terminal illness, but in reality they’re healthy.

Hallucinations

A hallucination is a sensory perception in the absence of outside stimuli. That means seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling something that isn’t present. A person who is hallucinating might see things that don’t exist or hear people talking when they’re alone.

Causes of psychosis

Each case of psychosis is different, and the exact cause isn’t always clear. There are certain illnesses that cause psychosis, however. There are also triggers like drug use, lack of sleep, and other environmental factors. In addition, certain situations can lead to specific types of psychosis developing.

Illnesses

Illnesses that can cause psychosis include:

• brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and some chromosomal disorders
• brain tumors or cysts

Some types of dementia may result in psychosis, such as that caused by:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• HIV, syphilis, and other infections that attack the brain
• some types of epilepsy
• stroke

Risk factors for developing psychosis

It’s not currently possible to precisely identify who is likely to develop psychosis. However, research has shown that genetics may play a role.

People are more likely to develop a psychotic disorder if they have a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, who has a psychotic disorder.

Children born with the genetic mutation known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome are at risk for developing a psychotic disorder, especially schizophrenia.

Types of psychosis

Some kinds of psychosis are brought on by specific conditions or circumstances that include the following:

Brief psychotic disorder

Brief psychotic disorder, sometimes called brief reactive psychosis, can occur during periods of extreme personal stress like the death of a family member. Someone experiencing brief reactive psychosis will generally recover in a few days to a few weeks, depending on the source of the stress.

Drug- or alcohol-related psychosis

Psychosis can be triggered by the use of alcohol or drugs, including stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. Hallucinogenic drugs like LSD often cause users to see things that aren’t really there, but this effect is temporary. Some prescription drugs like steroids and stimulants can also cause symptoms of psychosis.

People who have an addition to alcohol or certain drugs can experience psychotic symptoms if they suddenly stop drinking or taking those drugs.

Organic psychosis

A head injury or an illness or infection that affects the brain can cause symptoms of psychosis.

Psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders can be triggered by stress, drug or alcohol use, injury, or illness. They can also appear on their own. The following types of disorders may have psychotic symptoms:

Bipolar disorder

When someone has bipolar disorder, their moods swing from very high to very low. When their mood is high and positive, they may have symptoms of psychosis. They may feel extremely good and believe they have special powers.

When their mood is depressed, the individual may have psychotic symptoms that make them feel angry, sad, or frightened. These symptoms include thinking someone is trying to harm them.

Delusional disorder

A person experiencing delusional disorder strongly believes in things that aren’t real.

Psychotic depression

This is major depression with psychotic symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a lifelong disease that is generally accompanied by psychotic symptoms.

How is psychosis diagnosed?

Psychosis is diagnosed through a psychiatric evaluation. That means a doctor will watch the person’s behavior and ask questions about what they’re experiencing. Medical tests and X-rays may be used to determine whether there is an underlying illness causing the symptoms.

Diagnosing psychosis in children and teenagers

Many of the symptoms of psychosis in adults aren’t symptoms of psychosis in young people. For example, small children often have imaginary friends with whom they talk. This just represents imaginative play, which is completely normal for children.

But if you’re worried about psychosis in a child or adolescent, describe their behavior to a doctor.

Treatment of psychosis

Treating psychosis may involve a combination of medications and therapy. Most people will experience an improvement in their symptoms with treatment.

Rapid tranquilization

Sometimes people experiencing psychosis can become agitated and be at risk of hurting themselves or others. In these cases, it may be necessary to calm them down quickly. This method is called rapid tranquilization. A doctor or emergency response personnel will administer a fast-acting injection or liquid medicine to quickly relax the patient.

Medication

Symptoms of psychosis can be controlled with medications called antipsychotics. They reduce hallucinations and delusions and help people think more clearly. The type of antipsychotic that is prescribed will depend on the symptoms.

In many cases, people only need to take antipsychotics for a short time to get their symptoms under control. People with schizophrenia may have to stay on medications for life.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy means meeting regularly to talk with a mental health counselor with the goal of changing thinking and behaviors. This approach has been shown to be effective in helping people make permanent changes and better manage their illness. It’s often most helpful for psychotic symptoms that don’t completely resolve with medications.

Complications and outlook of psychosis

Psychosis doesn’t have many medical complications. However, if left untreated, it can be challenging for people experiencing psychosis to take good care of themselves. That could cause other illnesses to go untreated.

Most people who experience psychosis will recover with proper treatment. Even in severe cases, medication and therapy can help.