Psychosis Overview and Symptoms

A condition where a person perceives and interprets reality differently than others.

False beliefs that are deeply held and hard to change, typically important to the person experiencing them.

Perceptions without real external stimulation (e.g., seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren't there).

Feeling as if one's bodily functions or thoughts are being controlled by an outside force.

Experiencing the belief that one's thoughts can be heard by others.

Experiences of having thoughts placed into one's mind by an external force.

Experiencing the feeling that thoughts are being taken out of one's mind.

Sensations felt as if they come from an external source.

A disruption in the way a person thinks, often characterized by disorganization and fragmented speech patterns.

The study of the occurrence and distribution of schizophrenia in a population.

The likely course and outcome of the illness or disability, including predictions about the future severity. (Schizoprenia)

Factors that increase the possibility of developing schizophrenia, including genetics, early-life experiences, and environmental influences.

The potential for inconsistencies or changes in a diagnosis, especially due to ongoing research and refinement of diagnostic frameworks.

Symptoms include disorganized or fragmented thoughts, including 'knight's move' thinking (jumping between ideas) and 'word salad' (incoherent speech).

A phase that occurs before the full-blown onset of psychotic symptoms.

Advantages of having a diagnosis for treatment and research(especially of Schizophrenia)

A shift from a period of elevated mood (e.g. increased energy, creativity, rapid thoughts) to a period of significantly disturbed mood (e.g. racing thoughts, irritability, loss of memory).

Mania with psychotic symptoms; this occurs in about 2/3rds of people experiencing mania. These symptoms are typically consistent with the elevated mood, and may include grandiose delusions, persecutory delusions, and second-person auditory hallucinations.

Increased likelihood of risky behaviors during a manic episode, especially at extreme ends.

Irrational beliefs about one's own abilities or importance, often associated with elevated mood in mania.

The experience of hearing voices directing or addressing the individual directly (i.e. "you", "do this"), rather than talking about the person, in the context of mania.

Hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, disorganized behavior, and significant distress. These symptoms appear suddenly and are often described as "positive" symptoms.

Loss of motivation, emotional expression, interest in social interactions, and speech. These symptoms develop gradually and typically follow an acute episode.

Distinct psychotic symptoms strongly associated with schizophrenia, including passivity experiences, auditory hallucinations in the third person, and delusional perceptions.

A condition where an individual experiences psychotic symptoms but also has prominent mood symptoms such as depression or mania.

A short-term psychotic episode, often triggered by stress. It resolves within a month.

Characterized by non-bizarre delusions lasting for at least one month, without the presence of other psychotic symptoms.

Psychotic symptoms that could be caused by underlying medical conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's disease.

Psychosis triggered by substance use or side effects of medication

The long-term outlook for people with bipolar disorder. It varies depending on factors like age of onset, co-occurring conditions, and severity of symptoms.

The majority of people with bipolar disorder live normal lives within the community, experiencing periods of recovery between episodes.

Individuals with bipolar disorder can achieve high levels of success in their careers despite the condition, with examples including lawyers, doctors, and bankers.

Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component, with a higher risk for twins and children of parents with the disorder.

Certain events in life, such as childbirth or trauma, can trigger episodes of bipolar disorder.

The early phase of psychosis characterized by a decline in functioning, social withdrawal, and changes in behavior.

Experiencing sensory perceptions without any real external stimulus, commonly auditory hallucinations with voices commenting.

False beliefs that are firmly held despite evidence to the contrary, often bizarre and impossible to explain.

Excess dopamine in the mesolimbic system (at D2 receptors) causes positive symptoms like hallucinations.

The mesolimbic system is involved in reward, motivation, dreaming, and imagination.

Antipsychotic medications block the excessive dopamine activity in the mesolimbic system.

Other neurotransmitters, like serotonin, are likely also involved in psychosis, but their specific roles are still being investigated.

Providing information and understanding about psychosis, including symptoms, treatment options, and self-management strategies.

Developing a personalized plan with triggers that could lead to relapse and strategies to cope with those triggers.

A therapy that helps people understand and challenge their thought patterns and beliefs related to psychotic experiences.

Antipsychotic medications mainly reduce positive symptoms of psychosis, decrease relapse risk, and can help with manic symptoms.

A mental disorder characterized by a combination of positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, negative symptoms like apathy and social withdrawal, and cognitive impairments.

Benefits of diagnosing schizophrenia include honesty, informing prognosis, communicating needs, and facilitating research and treatment.

Potential drawbacks of a schizophrenia diagnosis include stigma, diagnostic instability, and a focus on symptoms rather than the underlying cause.

A phase before full psychosis onset, characterized by subtle changes in behavior, social withdrawal, and a decline in functioning.

Treatment for schizophrenia often focuses on managing symptoms through medication and therapy, but research aims to understand the underlying causes.

A mental health condition characterized by alternating episodes of mania (elevated mood) and depression.

A milder form of mania, with elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced need for sleep, but without significant impairment in functioning.

A severe state of elevated mood, characterized by extreme energy, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, and potential for reckless behavior.

The study of the occurrence and distribution of bipolar disorder in a population. It shows a 1% prevalence for Bipolar I and a possible 5-6% for Bipolar II.

The age at which bipolar disorder typically appears, with a median age in the early 20s for Bipolar I.

A symptom of mania where people act impulsively and say or do things they wouldn't normally.

The transition from a euphoric, energized state of mania to a state marked by overwhelming confusion, rapid thoughts, and potential psychotic symptoms.

Hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder that occur during a manic episode. These symptoms are usually consistent with the elevated mood.

During mania, individuals may engage in risky behaviors like reckless spending, impulsive actions, and dangerous driving due to distorted perceptions of their abilities and invincibility.

When mania is severe, individuals often lack awareness or understanding of their condition and its consequences.

Involuntary repetitive movements, often of the face, tongue, or limbs, that can be a side effect of certain medications, particularly antipsychotics.

A rare but serious side effect of antipsychotic medications characterized by high fever, muscle rigidity, confusion, unstable pulse, and potentially breakdown of muscle tissue.

A family environment characterized by hostility, critical comments, or emotional over-involvement, which can increase the risk of relapse for people with mental illnesses.

A type of therapy focused on reducing expressed emotion in families, aiming to improve communication and decrease the risk of relapse for a family member with a mental illness.

An innovative approach to managing psychotic episodes that emphasizes collaborative dialogue involving the individual, their family, and support network to facilitate shared understanding and decision-making.

Managing severe manic episodes often involves antipsychotics as the first choice, along with mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines for agitation. Calming routines, sleep, and avoiding stress and substance use are also crucial.

Periods where both manic and depressive symptoms occur simultaneously. Management is similar to acute mania, focusing on symptom relief and stabilization.

Depression in people with bipolar disorder. It's often more problematic than mania and less easily distinguished from regular depression.

Treatment combines psychological approaches like CBT with complex medication options like antidepressants, antipsychotics, lamotrigine, or some antipsychotics alone.

Long-term management of bipolar disorder includes relapse prevention plans, good self-care, addressing co-occurring conditions, and considering maintenance medication.

Lithium is often offered as a medication for relapse prevention in bipolar disorder.

While bipolar disorder doesn't usually preclude having a baby, careful planning is essential considering potential risks for both mother and child.

Bipolar women are more likely to experience manic or depressive episodes during pregnancy and postpartum. Some medications like valproate, lithium, and carbamazepine can harm the unborn child.

People experiencing acute psychosis are at risk of self-neglect, harm from others, and harm to others, especially if they also have positive symptoms and use drugs.

When determining the best care setting for someone in acute psychosis, consider factors like needs for immediate treatment, potential for compulsory treatment, and the possibility of home management with support.

The initial assessment involves evaluating risks, investigating potential physical causes for psychosis, gathering personal history, and assessing coping resources and social circumstances.

Antipsychotic medication is typically used as medical intervention for acute psychosis to manage symptoms.

Good psychosis care involves ongoing assessment, a multidisciplinary team with a care coordinator to maintain engagement and avoid fragmentation, and a comprehensive plan.

Involving the family in psychosis care is essential to provide support, share information, and manage the illness together.

Various services provide support for people with psychosis after acute treatment, including early intervention, supported housing, day and vocational programs, welfare, and assertive outreach teams.

Key aspects of care for someone with acute psychosis include medical intervention, involvement of family, comprehensive assessment of needs, and individualized treatment plans.