Psychosis Overview
Psychosis is a mental health condition that affects a person’s ability to perceive and interpret reality. It can involve a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Psychosis can be a symptom of various mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression.
Signs & Symptoms
Psychosis can manifest in different ways, and its symptoms can vary from person to person.
- Hallucinations: Sensory experiences that are not real, such as hearing voices, seeing things that aren’t there, or feeling sensations on the skin that aren’t there
- Delusions: False beliefs that are not based on reality, such as believing that someone is following you or that you have special powers
- Disorganized thinking: Difficulty thinking clearly or logically, which can lead to confused speech or behavior
- Flat affect: Reduced emotional expression or a lack of emotional responsiveness
- Alogia: Reduced speech output or poverty of speech
- Avolition: Lack of motivation or initiative
- Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure
- Difficulty with attention and concentration
- Problems with memory and learning
- Impaired decision-making and problem-solving skills
Causes & Risk Factors
- Genetic predisposition: Family history of psychotic disorders can increase the risk
- Brain chemistry imbalances: Imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate
- Substance abuse: Use of certain drugs can trigger or worsen psychosis
- Trauma or stress: Exposure to traumatic events or chronic stress can increase vulnerability
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, like brain tumors or infections, can cause psychosis
Treatment
It can be challenging to treat psychosis and it is highly unlikely that treatment will be effective without the use of antipsychotic medication to help with lucidity. Once someone struggling with psychosis is stabilized, there are different treatment methods that can help people to better manage their symptoms. The most common treatment modalities used to treat psychosis include:
- Medication management: Antipsychotic medications can help manage symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of psychotic episodes
- Individual therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other therapeutic approaches can help individuals understand and manage their symptoms, develop coping skills, and improve their overall functioning
- Family therapy and support: Education and support for families to understand psychosis and effectively support their loved ones
A List of Adult Mental Health Issues We Treat at Sullivan & Associates
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Psychosis is a mental health condition that affects a person’s ability to perceive and interpret reality. It can involve a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Psychosis can be a symptom of various mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression.
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