Mental health is often a confusing area for many people. There are a wide range of conditions that fall under this banner and which people can misunderstand. Psychosis is one of the more notable of these. People mightn’t know much about it beyond some of the obvious symptoms.
With how many people are diagnosed with psychosis every year, a proper understanding of the condition is vital. Let’s dive into what psychosis actually is, how it manifests, and how it can be treated.
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis refers to when someone experiences a break from reality. It involves a collection of symptoms that all affect the mind, causing this break. When this happens, a person’s perception of reality and thoughts are disrupted. They’re then unable to distinguish what’s real and what’s not.
When psychosis develops, multiple symptoms can be visible. These include:
- Suspiciousness and paranoia
- Unusual or overly intense ideas
- Strange feelings or even a lack of feelings
- Difficulty telling reality from imagination
- Trouble communicating or difficulty speaking
- Inability to think clearly or logically
Then there are some of the symptoms that can be seen as more troublesome. People experiencing an episode of psychosis can behave violently and in a confusing, unpredictable way. This violent behavior can be toward themselves and to other people, which involves inherent risk.
A person doesn’t always need to show all of these symptoms to be in a state of psychosis. If they show the majority of them, however then it’s likely an episode of psychosis. They can also show a few other general changes in behavior. These include anxiety, difficulty functioning, emotional disruption, and a lack of motivation.
Who Develops Psychosis?
Psychosis is often misunderstood by the general population, and it’s easy to underestimate how many people experience it every year. The reality is between 15 and 100 people out of 100,000 develop psychosis every year. This usually first happens when a person is in their late teens or early twenties.
The condition isn’t exclusive to young people, however. Older adults with neurological issues are also at a higher risk of developing it. It’s also not uncommon for people younger than teenagers and people in their thirties to develop psychosis, even without any preexisting conditions.
What Causes Psychosis?
There isn’t one specific cause of psychosis. It can manifest because of a combination of issues and areas, ranging from differences in brain development, genetic risk, trauma and stressor exposure. It can also be a symptom of specific mental health conditions. The most notable of these are:
- Bipolar disorder
- Severe depression
- Schizophrenia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
Then there are behavioral factors that can cause an episode of psychosis. The misuse of drugs and alcohol, chronic sleep deprivation, and even certain medications can all play into this. A psychiatric professional can diagnose the underlying cause behind a person’s psychosis and develop a treatment plan to overcome it.
Treatment
The early treatment of psychosis is shown to have a significant impact on its effects on a person’s life. It also helps to avoid any further deterioration if there’s an underlying mental health condition at play. The exact treatment plan for psychosis depends on a patient’s needs.
A psychiatric care professional develops a treatment plan specific to their patient. This includes properly diagnosing and understanding any underlying causes of the psychosis.
The main form of treatment is antipsychotic medication. There are several types of medication formulated specifically to help with the condition. These all offer varying results and have different side effects. Some will be prescribed in specific circumstances, while other antipsychotic medications could be better in different circumstances.
A psychiatric professional takes this into account when diagnosing the psychosis and any other underlying conditions. Using this information, they prescribe the best medication for a patient’s needs.
Medication can often just be a part of an overall treatment plan, however. Coordinated specialty care is proven to be effective, with patients seeing better results when they receive this care. Working with a qualified psychiatric professional is integral to this, helping to create an effective treatment plan while putting patients on the best path forward.
Understanding Psychosis: Summing it Up
Psychosis is one of the more confusing mental health conditions in the general population. That’s despite how many people it affects every year. A comprehensive understanding of the condition, what causes it, and how it can be treated can be vital.