A psychotic episode can be temporary or signal an illness or disorder.
Psychosis refers to a set of symptoms affecting the mind, in which some degree of loss of contact with reality occurs. During a psychotic episode, popularly called a “psychotic break,” a disturbance occurs in a person’s thoughts and perceptions, and he or she may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not.
It is difficult to know the exact number of people suffering from psychosis. Studies estimate that between 15 and 100 people out of 100,000 develop psychosis each year.
Psychosis usually begins to manifest in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, people can experience a psychotic episode sooner or later, as part of many disorders and illnesses involving the condition. This is the case, for example, of elderly people with neurological disorders such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
signs and symptoms
People with psychosis may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
– delusions (false beliefs, for example, that people on TV are sending them special messages or that others are trying to harm them)
– hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others don’t see or hear, such as hearing voices telling people to do something or criticizing them).
– incoherent or nonsensical speech, or behavior inappropriate to the situation
– negative symptoms (lack of emotions, slowness, disinterest, lack of self-care)
– in some severe cases catatonia (or “freezing”, with motor immobility and lack of communication) may occur
Warning signs of the development of a psychotic episode
In general, a person experiences changes in their behavior before psychosis develops. Behavioral warning signs for psychosis include:
– Distrust, paranoid ideas or discomfort with others
– Difficulty thinking clearly and logically
– Social isolation and spending a lot of time alone
– Unusual or overly intense ideas, strange feelings, or lack of feelings
– Decline in hygiene or personal care
– Sleep problems, including difficulty sleeping and reduced sleep time
– Difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy
– Slurred speech or communication difficulties
– Sudden drop in grades or work performance
In addition to these symptoms, a person with psychosis may also experience more general changes in behavior, which include:
– Emotional changes
– Anxiety
– Lack of motivation
– Difficulty “functioning” on a daily basis
Risk to self or others
In some cases, a person experiencing a psychotic episode may behave in a confused and unpredictable manner and may harm themselves or become threatening or violent towards others.
The risk of violence and suicide is greatly reduced with treatment for psychosis, so it is important to seek help as soon as possible.
What causes psychosis?
There is no single cause of psychosis. The condition appears to result from a complex combination of genetic risk, differences in brain development, and exposure to stressors or trauma.
Psychosis can be a symptom of a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. However, a person can experience psychosis and never be diagnosed with schizophrenia or any other disorder.
Evidence suggests that certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine, are involved in psychotic symptoms.
In adults, symptoms of psychosis may occur due to a physical or mental condition that occurs later in life, such as: lupus (an autoimmune disease), HIV/AIDS, thyroid disease, epilepsy, syphilis, brain tumors, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease. and other dementias.
Other possible causes of psychosis include sleep deprivation, prescription medications, and abuse of alcohol or drugs such as marijuana, LSD, or amphetamines.
A mental illness such as schizophrenia is usually diagnosed only after all other causes have been ruled out.
Types of psychosis
Therefore, depending on the cause/origin of the symptoms, psychosis can be classified as:
– Postpartum psychosis (a severe type of postpartum depression that appears a few days or weeks after giving birth)
– Bipolar psychosis (associated with bipolar disorder, usually in manic phases)
– Psychotic depression (the symptoms are in addition to those of major depression)
– Psychosis induced by substances (such as alcohol or drugs)
– Myxedema psychosis (caused by hypothyroidism)
– Korsakoff psychosis (also called Wernicke’s encephalopathy, caused by vitamin B1 deficiency)
Acute or transient psychotic condition
Psychosis can also be classified based on the duration and intensity of symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms are intense and last a few weeks. They are generally associated with acute stress, substance use, or sleep deprivation. In other cases, the symptoms are part of a more chronic condition, which will require longer-lasting treatment.
Diagnosis
A trained mental health professional (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker) can provide an accurate diagnosis after a conversation with the patient, family, or caregivers, evaluation of symptoms, and medical history. In most cases it is necessary to take them to a healthcare professional because they cannot clearly understand what is happening.
Treatment
A trained psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker can make a diagnosis and help develop a treatment plan, with medications, therapy and other measures.
Studies have shown that it is common for a person to have psychotic symptoms for more than a year before receiving treatment. Reducing the duration of untreated psychosis is critical because early treatment often means better recovery.
Treatment usually includes antipsychotic medications. There are different types of medications and they have different side effects, so it is important to work closely with your doctor to determine the most effective medication with the fewest side effects.
Treatment often also includes other elements, such as therapy and family support, which are essential to help the patient and the people who live with him diagnose new episodes early.
Seek help
People do better when all of this coordinated specialized care begins as soon as possible after the onset of psychotic symptoms.
If you notice these behavioral changes or notice them in a friend or family member and they start to intensify or do not go away, see a healthcare provider.
Basic health units (UBS), psychosocial assistance centers (CAPS), emergency units (UPA), hospital emergency rooms (ED), mobile emergency assistance services (SAMU) are prepared to take care of people who are in a psychotic episode. In severe cases, where there is a risk to the person or others, hospitalization in general or specialized hospital may be necessary.
Sources: ICD-11; National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Mental Health – USA; Healthline, WebMD, Dr. Jairo Bouer
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
