Psychosis

Lore & Background

Common causes of chronic psychosis include schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and brain damage (usually as a result of alcoholism). Acute psychosis can be caused by severe distress, sleep deprivation, sensory deprivation, some medications, and drug use and withdrawal (including alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, and stimulants). Acute psychosis is termed primary if it results from a psychiatric condition and secondary if it is caused by another medical condition or drugs. The diagnosis of a mental-health condition requires excluding other potential causes, and tests can be administered to check whether psychosis is caused by central nervous system diseases, toxins, or other health problems.

Reader's Guide

Psychosis is significant as a core concept in psychopathology, representing a break from reality that can occur across multiple mental health conditions. Its symptoms—hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thought—have been recognized for millennia, yet its neurological basis remains poorly understood, though dopamine and other neurotransmitters are known to play an important role. Treatment includes antipsychotic medication, psychotherapy, and social support, with early treatment appearing to improve outcomes; however, outcomes depend on the underlying cause. The condition affects about 3% of people in the United States at some point in their lives. Historically, Karl Jaspers classified psychotic delusions into primary and secondary types, and the content of delusions often reflects the current culture, such as technology in recent years. The accepted medical position is that psychosis is caused by neurological brain dysfunction, though some psychologists believe the content of psychosis represents an underlying thought process partially or primarily responsible for it.

Did You Know?

• Up to 15% of the general population may experience auditory hallucinations, though not all are due to psychosis.
• Prevalence of delusions in schizophrenia is generally considered around 80-90% according to Columbia University.
• Visual hallucinations occur in roughly a third of people with schizophrenia, though some studies show rates higher than 60%.
• The subject matter of delusions reflects the current culture; in the early 1900s in the United States, syphilis was a common theme.