Psychosis
On this page, you will find everything you need to know about psychosis.
What is psychosis?
It is a mental condition that occurs when a patient loses the ability to distinguish between reality and delusions, losing contact with reality. The patient enters a state where they start seeing people, smelling odors, and hearing voices that do not exist. This condition is called hallucination, or they have personal beliefs that are not true but strongly held, called delusions.
What are the symptoms of psychosis?
- The main symptoms of a psychotic disorder are:
- Hallucinations: This occurs when the patient starts hearing voices, seeing people or things, smelling odors, and tasting flavors that do not exist.
Delusions: These are false beliefs strongly held by the patient, which cannot be changed, such as the firm belief that food is poisoned or the strong conviction of being subjected to conspiracies.
The merging of hallucinations and delusions can lead to extremely dangerous behaviors, such as suicide and harming others.
What are the causes of psychosis?
- There is no specific cause of a psychotic disorder, but the most common causes include:
- Brain tumors.
- Brain diseases.
- Infections and inflammation in the brain.
- Severe infections cause high fevers..
- Dementia andAlzheimer’s disease..
- Strokes or brain attacks.
- Alcohol consumption and drug abuse.
- Side effects of certain medications.
Exposure to trauma.
- Psychotic disorder may also be a symptom of other mental illnesses, such as:
- Schizophrenia..
- Bipolardisorder.
Severe depression.
What are the diagnostic methods?:
- The doctor takes the patient’s medical history and conducts a clinical examination. Additional procedures may be requested as needed, such as:
- Diagnosis through some questions to identify the causes of psychosis, such as:
- Are you currently using any specific medications?
- Do you have any other symptoms?
- Questions about your productivity and daily performance.
- Questions about hallucination episodes, such as: Do you hear voices?
- Questions about delusional episodes, such as: Do you feel that people are controlling you?
- Are you using any medications irregularly or abusing drugs? The doctor will then refer you to a specialist.
- Blood and urine tests.
Brain examination through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What are the treatment methods for psychosis?
- Treatment includes several procedures or as needed, and may involve:
- Medication treatment.
Psychological treatment, including cognitive-behavioral therapy.
What are the preventive measures for psychosis?
- While it is not possible to predict the onset of psychosis, one can avoid its triggers by:
- Avoiding the misuse of medications or drug abuse.
Treating any infections, specifically eye and ear inflammations, as they may lead to brain infections.
What are the complications of psychosis?
Individuals with psychosis are more prone to addiction to alcoholic and narcotic substances.
They are also more susceptible to dangerous behaviors, such as suicide.
- When should you see a doctor?
- The initial symptoms of delirium can be hard to distinguish, but if you notice changes in mood, emotions, and behavior, as well as increased avoidance of family and friends, you should see a doctor immediately.
A person with delirium finds it difficult to distinguish between reality and delusions, so if you know someone delusional and inclined to harm themselves or others, contact the appropriate authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are psychosis and insanity hereditary conditions?
Some causes are non-hereditary due to infections or non-hereditary health issues, but some diseases are hereditary and can lead to psychosis, such as schizophrenia.
What is thedifference between psychosisand schizophrenia?
Psychosis: A set of symptoms involving a disconnection from reality, related to various mental and psychological illnesses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia: It is a form of psychosis, with psychosis being one of its symptoms.
Does a person with psychosis pose a danger to society?
