Psychotic:
Definition:
A person experiencing psychosis, a mental health condition characterized by a loss of touch with reality. Psychosis can manifest through severe disturbances in thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behavior.
Subtypes:
- Pseudopsychotic: A temporary episode of psychosis caused by substance abuse, prescription medications, or a medical condition.
- Brief Psychotic Disorder: A short-term episode of psychosis that lasts less than a month and is often triggered by trauma or extreme stress.
- Delusional Disorder: A condition where a person holds persistent, false beliefs that are not based in reality but remain unchanged despite evidence to the contrary.
- Schizophrenia: A chronic psychotic disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and diminished emotional expression.
- Schizoaffective Disorder: A chronic mental illness that combines symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, with symptoms of a mood disorder, such as major depression or mania.
Symptoms:
- Delusions: False beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary.
- Hallucinations: Sensory experiences (seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling things) that are not real but seem vivid and real to the person experiencing them.
- Disorganized thinking: Incoherent or nonsensical thoughts and speech patterns, making communication difficult.
- Emotional dysregulation: Intense mood swings or a flat affect, wherein emotional expression becomes limited or absent.
- Impaired daily functioning: Difficulties in carrying out daily activities such as work, self-care, and interpersonal relationships.
Treatment:
Treatment for psychosis typically involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and other supportive interventions. Antipsychotic medications can help manage symptoms, while therapy can assist in addressing underlying causes and developing coping strategies. It is crucial for individuals with psychosis to receive ongoing support from mental health professionals.