What are the Symptoms of Psychosis?
Learn more about psychosis symptoms and signs, causes, and diagnosis, as well as how to treat and manage it.
Article Contents
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a disorder that alters how a person’s brain functions, causing them to become disengaged. They might perceive, hear, or hold beliefs that are false. Psychosis is not a disease; it is a symptom.
A mental disease, a physical injury or illness, substance misuse, or highly stressful or traumatic events can all cause psychosis.
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What are the 3 Stages of Psychosis?
The three stages of psychosis are as follows:
- Prodromal stage: This is the first phase before the true psychosis symptoms appear. Symptoms in the prodromal stage could be barely perceptible. There is a progressive alteration in the person’s ideas, perceptions, actions, and functioning before the real psychotic symptoms appear. The person may experience general personality changes at this stage, but no overt psychotic signs.
- Acute stage: The genuine psychotic symptoms manifest at this phase. During the acute stage, psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and distorted thinking, begin to appear. The hallmarks of hallucinations include hearing, experiencing, and/or seeing things that are not consistent with reality. These symptoms may cause a person great distress.
- Recovery: This stage starts when the patient seeks prompt medical attention. The majority of patients will fully recover from psychotic symptoms and never have another episode if the treatment is successful. Some people may experience acute stage symptoms that last for a while, but they recover and go back to their normal life.
Types of Psychosis
While many of the symptoms overlap, there are numerous different types of psychosis. These will be detailed below.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is the most prevalent psychotic illness. Hallucinations, delusions, and behavioral abnormalities that last longer than six months are common in patients with this condition. People with this kind of disorder frequently exhibit deterioration in social function, academic performance, and work.
Schizo-Affective Disorder
Symptoms of schizophrenia and other mood disorders, like depression, are both present in patients with schizo-affective disease.
Schizophreniform Disorder
The diagnosis of schizophreniform disease is made when a patient with schizophrenia experiences symptoms that last less than six months.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Brief psychotic disorder is the name given to a condition where a patient only has short, abrupt psychotic episodes. These episodes normally last less than a month and frequently are a reaction to a stressful environment.
Delusional Disorder
Delusional disorder is a term used to describe patients who hold incorrect, ingrained ideas about situations in real life that could be true, such as having sickness or being the target of a conspiracy. These hallucinations continue for at least a month.
Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder
Delusions and hallucinations can occasionally result from the withdrawal from drugs and alcohol, including methamphetamine. This condition is referred to as drug-induced psychotic disorder.
Psychotic Disorder Due to a Medical Condition
A patient is diagnosed with a psychotic disorder as a result of a medical condition when the symptoms of the disorder are brought on by conditions that have an impact on how the brain functions, such as a brain tumor.
Paraphrenia
Schizophrenia in elderly persons is known as paraphrenia.
Common Symptoms of Psychosis
Depending on the stage of psychosis a person is in or approaching, there are various signs and symptoms that one can look for in order to prepare for or prevent a psychotic episode, or know when to seek medical attention.
Warning Signs Before Psychosis
Potential warning signs that a psychotic episode may occur in the future include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- A drop in grades or job performance
- Feeling paranoid
- A sudden decline in self-care
- Spending more time alone
- Disinterest in personal grooming
Signs of Early Psychosis
The following signs may indicate the early stages of psychosis:
- Hearing voices or sounds other people can’t
- Smelling things which other people cannot
- Not being able to think clearly or pay attention
- Hang on to unusual beliefs or thoughts
- Pull away from closed ones
- Stop taking care of yourself
Symptoms of a Psychotic Episode
Symptoms of psychosis or an occurring psychotic episode include:
- Unusual psychomotor behavior
- Auditory hallucinations
- Visual hallucinations
- Delusions
- Negative symptoms
- Catatonia
Causes of Psychosis
Psychosis and psychotic episodes can be brought on by an array of different situations, including:
Genetic Causes
If a person has a parent, brother, or another close relative who suffers from a psychotic disorder, they are more likely to develop a psychotic disorder. Children who are born with the genetic condition known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome are more likely to develop schizophrenia than other psychotic disorders.2
Life Experience
Psychosis may result from experience in war, sexual abuse, or the death of a loved one. The kind of trauma and the age at which it occurred also matter.
Physical Illness or Injury
Psychosis can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, including traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and HIV.
Substance Use
Usage of medications or drugs like LSD and amphetamines have been linked to instances of psychosis in some people.
Mental health conditions
Psychosis can also be a sign of a pre-existing mental condition like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
How Psychosis is Diagnosed
Typically, there are four steps to diagnosing psychosis or a psychotic disorder. The steps for diagnosis are as follows:
- Initial assessment: In a brief first examination, doctors will ask the patient some questions about how they have been feeling and the specifics of their hallucinations and delusions to diagnose a psychotic condition.
- Medical history: To rule out physical sickness or drug use, such as cocaine or LSD, it is crucial to obtain the patient’s medical history. Blood tests and occasionally brain imaging, such as MRI scans, may also be performed on the patient.
- Psychiatric history: Psychiatric testing is used to identify psychosis. It is crucial to notify the doctor if any family members have previously received a psychotic disorder diagnosis in the patient’s psychiatric history.
- Physical exam: The patient will need to undergo a physical examination, blood testing, and occasionally brain imaging (such as MRI scans), or an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records brain activity, and urinalysis.
Treatment Options Available for Psychosis
There are a variety of treatment options for psychosis that are available depending upon the severity of the psychotic episode or the diagnosis of a specific psychotic disorder.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy. This type of treatment seeks to alter mental patterns to assist in modifying emotions and actions. It is predicated on the notion that unconscious forces from the past, rather than current incorrect beliefs or thoughts, are the cause of psychotic acts or sentiments.3
Rapid Tranquilization
People who are going through psychosis occasionally tend to erupt into a rage and put themselves or others in danger. It can be vital to immediately settle them down in these circumstances. This process is referred to as fast tranquilization. To swiftly relax the patient, a doctor or emergency responders will give them a fast-acting injection or liquid medication.
Antipsychotic Drugs
The primary form of treatment for persons with psychotic diseases is antipsychotic medication.
In people with psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, antipsychotics can lessen the symptoms of psychosis.
These drugs include clozapine, chlorpromazine (Thorazine), and haloperidol (Haldol), as examples (Clozaril). These medications should only be used under a doctor’s supervision because they may have negative side effects. They don’t, however, address or resolve the underlying problem.
How Irish Healing Can Help Psychotic Patients
At Irish Healing, we work hard to give patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, and other psychotic disorders the best possible clinical care, as well as support for their families. Visit us right away if you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms that worry you.
