Psychosis

Psychosis is a very general term for a psychological condition in which a person finds it hard to distinguish between real and imagined events. The experiences can be very distressing and disruptive to everyday life, sometimes leading to difficulty in forming relationships and holding down a job.

Symptoms of psychosis

Psychotic episodes are most commonly characterised by hallucinations and delusions.

Hallucinations

These are when you see, hear or feel things that aren’t really there and that other people can’t sense. The most common form of hallucination is hearing voices. Whilst this is a surprisingly common experience, sometimes brought on by severe stress or bereavement, it can a sign of psychosis and is often extremely intrusive or distressing, making normal social interaction particularly difficult to continue.

Delusions

These are unusual beliefs or a belief in something that others do not share such as paranoia and feelings of grandeur or importance. The person may not be aware that their beliefs are irrational or unfounded. Many people report disordered thoughts, where their thinking becomes jumbled. This can be confusing both for the sufferer and whoever they are talking to, as they might jump from one topic to another with no warning or reason.

Symptoms like the ones above make daily life very hard to continue normally. Often they cause the person to become very withdrawn because they find interactions with other people so difficult. This can lead to the development of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Men and women sometimes react differently to these distressing experiences, with men being more likely to show aggression rather than increased emotional vulnerability.

Why do people become psychotic?

Psychotic experiences are very common, almost anyone could potentially experience some of the symptoms above, both on a short term or a long term basis. Psychosis is most often a symptom of an underlying condition. The cause can be physical or psychological. Changes to the brain through physical damage (head injuries, tumours etc.), drug abuse and withdrawal from addictive drugs can affect the way we think, sometimes causing psychotic symptoms. People suffering from things like clinical depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (manic depression) seem to be more likely to experience psychosis in some form. There are also theories that traumatic events such as sexual abuse or sleep deprivation can lead to psychotic episode.

Can psychosis be treated?

There are several options once a diagnosis has been made. These include:

Anti-psychotic medication: These have a sedative effect, and can be very effective in controlling symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, but there many potential side effects which should be monitored carefully.

Psychological therapies: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) addresses the irrationality and disordered thought patterns that emerge in a psychotic episode. This type of therapy does require a certain degree of awareness that is often not present in psychosis.

Hospitalisation: Sometimes if a person is very distressed by a psychotic episode they might be hospitalised, either voluntarily or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983. This provides a safe environment for the person as well as providing a chance for medical staff to assess the person and explore potential treatments. Being in this kind of environment can be distressing, but also a comfort in the knowledge that the people around you understand what you are experiencing, and that others experience the same thing.

Self help: It is also possible to self help through relaxation techniques and group therapy, and can be an effective way of managing symptoms.

More information

1. The Edinburgh Psychology Centre can help you. Contact us on 0131-668-1440 to find out more or to arrange an initial session.
2. Alternatively you may wish to speak to your GP who should be able to refer you to someone suitable.
3. See our links at www.edinburghtherapy.co.uk/links.htm for details of organisations who may be able to provide assistance or information.

Click here for a pdf version of this psychosis information sheet.

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