Why does psychosis occur

Weight gain is a common side effect. In rare cases, a person with psychosis may also develop type 2 diabetes. Read more about the complications of psychosis. Someone who develops psychosis will have their own unique set of symptoms and experiences, according to their particular circumstances.

Hallucinations are where a person perceives something that doesn't exist in reality. They can occur in all five of the senses:. A delusion is where a person has an unshakeable belief in something implausible, bizarre, or obviously untrue. Paranoid delusion and delusions of grandeur are two examples of psychotic delusions.

A person with psychosis will often believe an individual or organisation is making plans to hurt or kill them. This can lead to unusual behaviour. For example, a person with psychosis may refuse to be in the same room as a mobile phone because they believe they are mind control devices. Someone with psychosis may also have delusions of grandeur.

This is where they believe they have some imaginary power or authority. For example, they may think they're the president of a country or they have the power to bring people back from the dead.

People with psychosis often have disturbed, confused, and disrupted patterns of thought. Signs of this include:. People who have psychotic episodes are often totally unaware their behaviour is in any way strange or that their delusions or hallucinations are not real. They may recognise delusional or bizarre behaviour in others, but lack the self-awareness to recognise it in themselves. For example, a person with psychosis being treated in a psychiatric ward may complain that their fellow patients are mentally unwell, while they're perfectly normal.

Postnatal psychosis, also called puerperal psychosis, is a severe form of postnatal depression , a type of depression some women experience after having a baby. It's estimated postnatal psychosis affects around 1 in every 1, women who give birth. It most commonly occurs during the first few weeks after having a baby. Postnatal psychosis is more likely to affect women who already have a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Postnatal psychosis is regarded as a medical emergency. Contact your GP immediately if you think someone you know may have developed postnatal psychosis. If this isn't possible, call the NHS 24 '' service or your local out-of-hours service. The underlying psychological cause will often influence the type of psychotic episode someone experiences. For example, a person with bipolar disorder is more likely to have delusions of grandeur, whereas someone with depression or schizophrenia is more likely to develop paranoid delusions.

Alcohol misuse and drug misuse can trigger a psychotic episode. A person can also experience a psychotic episode if they suddenly stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs after using them for a long time.

This is known as withdrawal. It's also possible to experience psychosis after drinking large amounts of alcohol or if you're high on drugs. In rare situations, psychosis can also occur as a side effect of some types of medication or as a result of an overdose of that medication. For example, levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease , can sometimes cause psychotic episodes. However, any medicine that acts on the brain can cause psychosis with an overdose.

Never stop taking a prescribed medication unless advised to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional responsible for your care. There's been a great deal of research into how psychosis affects the brain and how changes in the brain can trigger symptoms of psychosis. Research has revealed several physical and biological changes occur in the brain during a psychotic episode. Grey matter is the part of the brain responsible for processing thoughts.

The results of magnetic resonance imaging MRI scans have shown some people with a history of psychosis have less grey matter than most other people. However, it's not yet fully understood why this is. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, one of many chemicals the brain uses to transmit information from one brain cell to another. It is associated with how we feel whether something is significant, important, or interesting.

It's thought levels of dopamine in the brain become too high in people with psychosis. The excess dopamine interrupts specific pathways in the brain that are responsible for some of its most important functions, such as:. Evidence for the role of dopamine in psychosis comes from several sources, including brain scans and the fact medications known to reduce the effects of dopamine in the brain also reduce the symptoms of psychosis.

However, illegal drugs known to increase levels of dopamine in the brain — such as cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines — can trigger psychosis. It's important to speak to your GP as soon as possible as the early treatment of psychosis usually has better long-term outcomes. There's no test to positively diagnose psychosis.

However, your GP will look at your symptoms and rule out short-term causes, such as drug misuse. Your GP may ask questions to determine the cause of your psychosis. The evidence supporting the early treatment of psychosis means you're likely to be referred to a specialist urgently. This will either be during or after your first episode of psychosis. Who you're referred to will depend on the services available in your area.

You may be referred to:. Your psychiatrist will carry out a full assessment to help identify and diagnose any underlying mental health condition that could be causing your symptoms. This will help when planning your treatment for psychosis. The lack of insight associated with psychosis means people experiencing it aren't always able to recognise their strange behaviour.

They may be reluctant to visit their GP if they believe there's nothing wrong with them, and you may need to get help for them. Someone who has had psychotic episodes in the past may have been assigned a mental health worker, who works in social services, so try to contact them to express your concerns. Someone who is having a psychotic episode for the first time may need a friend, relative or someone else close to them to persuade them to visit their GP.

If a person who is having a psychotic episode refuses to seek help and is believed to present a risk to themselves or others, their nearest relative can request a psychological assessment. Your local mental health trust can advise you about this. If someone has very severe psychosis, they can be compulsorily detained at hospital for assessment and treatment under the Mental Health Scotland Act Treatment for psychosis involves a combination of antipsychotic medicines, psychological therapies, and social support.

Your treatment is likely to be co-ordinated by a team of mental health professionals working together. If this is your first psychotic episode, you may be referred to an early intervention team. An early intervention team is a team of healthcare professionals set up specifically to work with people who have experienced their first episode of psychosis. Some early intervention teams only focus on a certain age range, such as people who are 14 to 35 years old.

Treatment for psychosis will vary, depending on the underlying cause. You'll receive specific treatment if you've been diagnosed with an underlying mental health condition as well. For example, treatment for bipolar disorder uses a variety of medications, which could include antipsychotics to treat symptoms of mania, lithium and anticonvulsants to help stabilise mood, as well as psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy CBT.

Treatment for schizophrenia usually involves a combination of antipsychotic medication and social support. CBT or another type of psychotherapy called family therapy are also often used. Psychosis related to drug or alcohol intoxication or withdrawal may only require a short course of antipsychotics or tranquillisers, which have a calming effect. Referral to an addiction counsellor may then be recommended. Antipsychotic medicines, also known as neuroleptics, are usually recommended as the first treatment for psychosis.

They work by blocking the effect of dopamine, a chemical that transmits messages in the brain. However, they're not suitable or effective for everyone, as side effects can affect people differently. In particular, antipsychotics will be monitored closely in people who also have epilepsy , a condition that causes seizures or fits. It's important to get help quickly since early treatment provides the best hope of recovery by slowing, stopping and possibly reversing the effects of psychosis.

Early warning signs include the following:. Determining exactly when the first episode of psychosis begins can be hard, but these signs and symptoms strongly indicate an episode of psychosis:.

A mental health professional performing a psychological evaluation can determine if a mental health condition is involved and discuss next steps. If the psychosis is a symptom of a mental health condition, early action helps to keep lives on track. Psychosis includes a range of symptoms but typically involves one of these two major experiences:.

We are still learning about how and why psychosis develops, but several factors are likely involved. We do know that teenagers and young adults are at increased risk of experiencing an episode of psychosis because of hormonal changes in their brain during puberty. A diagnosis identifies an illness; symptoms are components of an illness.

Health care providers draw on information from medical and family history and a physical examination to diagnose someone. If causes such as a brain tumor, infection or epilepsy are ruled out, a mental illness might be the reason. If the cause is related to a mental health condition, early diagnosis and treatment provide the best hope of recovery.

Research shows that the earlier people experiencing psychosis receive treatment, the better their long-term quality of life. CSC uses a team of health professionals and specialists who work with a person to create a personal treatment plan based on life goals while involving family members as much as possible.

Portions of their website are available in Spanish. Traditional treatment for psychosis involves psychotherapy and medication. Several types of therapy have successfully helped individuals learn to manage their condition. In addition, medication targets symptoms and helps reduce their impact.

Search Close Menu. Sign In About Mental Illness. About Mental Illness Treatments. About Mental Illness Research. Your Journey Individuals with Mental Illness. They may also do tests to rule out other factors, including :. A lack of sleep may also trigger psychosis. Antipsychotic drugs are the main form of treatment for people with a psychotic illness.

Antipsychotics can reduce psychosis symptoms in people with psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. However, they do not treat or cure the underlying condition. A person can only use these drugs under supervision from a doctor, as they can have adverse effects.

The doctor will also treat any underlying conditions responsible for the psychosis. Where possible, family support can also help. The person may need to stay in the hospital. Sometimes, a doctor will prescribe rapid tranquilization. They give the person a fast acting medication that relaxes them to ensure that they do not harm themselves or others.

The person does not stay in the hospital but uses antipsychotic drugs to help prevent further episodes. Stopping the medication can lead to relapses.

Psychotherapy can also help treat cognitive issues and other symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Apart from schizophrenia, various other disorders and factors can cause psychosis.

The different types include:. Psychosis can also result from other disorders, such as:. It can make the individual and those around them anxious, but treatment is available to help manage psychosis in those who are at risk. It is essential to follow the treatment plan for schizophrenia and other mental health conditions to prevent a relapse of symptoms, such as psychosis. If anyone has concerns that a person may be experiencing psychosis, they should take them to the emergency room, if possible, or call Blackfishing is a type of interpersonal racism that depicts Black people as stereotypes and portrays Black culture as a product.

It ignores the…. Online anger management classes are available to those wanting to learn how to better deal with their emotions. Read on for more. Depression is a common condition that a person may be able to manage effectively with coping strategies.

Books about depression can help provide these. Behavioral activation is an approach to mental health treatment that involves using beneficial behaviors to influence emotions.