Psychosis

The term psychosis is a medical or psychiatric term used to describe an illness with which a person loses touch with reality. Although many people use the term psychotic to describe someone that may act in what they perceive to be a mad way, psychosis is a serious condition in which a person can suffer from a range of problems and this can lead to serious consequences if the condition is not controlled through proper treatment. Psychosis comes in different variations, and someone suffering from psychosis could experience symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Someone with psychosis may also believe that there is nothing wrong with them, and may be unable to think clearly.

There are a number of commonly known psychological disorders that come under the umbrella of psychoses. Although the specific symptoms of each of the illnesses known as psychoses can vary, with all of these illnesses the sufferer can lose touch with reality, sometimes to a serious level. Some of the illnesses that come under the umbrella of psychoses include:

• Schizophrenia: With this illness the sufferer may experience delusions, hallucinations, and hear voices. Often, sufferers may ‘hear’ a number of voices, all telling him or her to do certain things or act a certain way.
• Schizoaffective disorder: This is where the sufferer has a combined psychotic disorder, where symptoms can occur together or close together.
• Manic depression: This is where the sufferer experiences mood swings, and can go from feeling elated and high to feeling extremely low and depressed. The person’s thinking and behaviour changes according to the type of episode they are suffering.

Other illnesses that come under the category of psychoses include mania, delusional/paranoid disorders, and psychotic depression. It is important that psychoses are properly treated and there are a number of treatments and medications available based upon the type of illness and the severity of the illness suffered.