“Psychosis is a general term used to describe a mental health problem in which a person experiences changes in thinking, perception, mood and behaviour which can severely disrupt their life.”

Main psychotic diagnoses are:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder)
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Drug-induced psychosis

Possible Causes of Psychosis

• Biochemistry
• Brain Damage
• Cannabis, ‘skunk’ & other illegal drugs
• Diet, allergies, infections
• Family Environment
• Genetic
• Hormones
• Life experiences
• Personality
• Pregnancy and birth complications
• Psychological factors

Common Symptoms when a psychotic disorder is developing...

• Change in emotion and motivation
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Suspiciousness
• Blunted, flat or inappropriate emotion
• Change in appetite
• Reduced energy and motivation
• Changes in thinking and perception
• Difficulties in concentration
• Sense of alteration of self, others or the outside world
• Odd ideas

Symptoms of psychotic disorder developing

• Changes in behaviour
• Sleep disturbance
• Change in eating habit
• Social isolation or withdrawal
• Reduced ability to carry to work

Most Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Delusions

• false beliefs: beliefs of persecution, of guilt, or having special missions, being under external control, exalted birth etc

Hallucinations

• false perception: commonly hearing voices, seeing, feeling, tasting or smelling thing, ALL senses

Cognitive impairments

• loss of concentration, memory, complete daily task.

Loss of drive

• lack of motivation, this can extend to self care (not laziness)

Blunted emotions

• lack of emotion, numbness emotion, inappropriate emotions.

Social withdrawal

• common feature of psychosis, the longer the treatment delay, the more socially withdrawn

What should you do if a person shows symptoms of psychosis?

The individual should be treated by an Early Intervention Service (St. Charles’ Hospital)

Individuals experiencing repeated episodes of psychosis may eventually be diagnosed as having schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), psychotic depression, schizoaffective disorder or a drug-induced psychosis.