Health Topics for Mental and Emotional Health

Department of Psychiatry

Psychosis

Psychosis is a symptom of a mental or psychological disorder. Generally, if someone is psychotic, it means that they are not dealing well with reality. They may have hallucinations or delusions. A hallucination is a sensation that is not real. A delusion is a false belief about reality.

Hallucinations with mental disorders usually include hearing voices. These may be voices that say bad things to the person. Sometimes the voices tell the person that he or she is special, such as that he or she is God or Jesus. Hallucinations that involve seeing, feeling, smelling, or tasting often reflect a medical problem.

There are many types of delusions. Some of the most common ones are people believing:

• they have a horrible illness when they do not or
• someone is in love with them when they are not or
• they are the President of the United States or
• someone is out to get them

Psychosis can be short-term or long-term. A short-term psychosis is often related to exposure to certain drugs or substances. Certain medical conditions can also result in psychosis. Many other medical problems can cause psychosis, such as problems with the brain or nervous system.

People can even become psychotic from a severe lack of sleep. People with bipolar disorder often become psychotic in the manic or depressed phases of their illness. Many psychotic disorders are long-term. The most common is schizophrenia, which usually involves problems with hallucinations or delusions throughout the person's adult life.

It is important that people who have any kind of psychosis be examined by their doctor. They may also need to see a mental health provider.

The treatment of a psychosis depends entirely on the reason for the psychosis. Most people will need to take anti-psychotic medications. Unfortunately, if left to themselves, many will forget to take them or decide they do not need them. They may end up psychotic again. The support of family, friends, and social services to help a person stay on their medication is a necessity.

For more information contact the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill at 800-950-6264 or The National Manic-Depressive and Depressive Association at 800-826-3632.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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