What is psychosis?
Psychosis results from a disruption in brain functioning, and is described as a loss of contact with reality. It is a serious condition, but it is treatable. Psychosis is more common than people believe, affecting 3% of the Canadian population.
It is characterized by:
- Altering a person’s ways of thinking, believing, perceiving, and behaviours
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Confused thoughts and disorientation
Symptoms of psychosis vary from person to person and can change over time. Psychosis can emerge gradually over time, or sometimes symptoms can appear suddenly and are very obvious to the individual or the individual’s friends and family.
This is important to note because when symptoms emerge gradually over time, they may be dismissed or ignored, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and treatment. The initial experience of psychotic symptoms is referred to as the ‘first episode’ of psychosis. Recovery poses to be more difficult the longer that one waits to be treated.
Are some people more likely to experience psychosis?
In short, psychosis can happen to anyone.
Onset of symptoms often present between the ages of 16 and 30 years old.
Psychosis can affect both males and females. However, males tend to present symptoms a few years earlier than females.
There is an increased risk of developing psychosis if you have a family history of serious mental illness.
Tends to emerge during adolescence and young adulthood – this is important when looking at the link between cannabis and psychosis! Discussed more on the link between cannabis and psychosis.
What causes psychosis?
When someone experiences psychosis for the first time it is difficult to know the cause. This is why it is imperative to seek treatment as soon as possible when symptoms present.
Some common causes of psychosis include:
- Mental illness: associated with a number of medical conditions including schizophrenia, depression, bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder and substance abuse, among others
- Genetics: people with a family history of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia have an increased chance of developing psychosis
- Recreational drugs: can trigger psychosis by the use of drugs – including cannabis, amphetamines, LSD (acid), magic mushrooms, ketamine, ecstasy and cocaine
How is psychosis treated?
Treatment is aimed at allowing the patient to maintain their normal routine. Typically, low doses of anti-psychotic medications are a key component of treatment, along with education and support for the individual. Some of these medications include aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), and haloperidol (Haldol). Depending on your symptoms, your physician would recommend which is the right fit.
What is important to know is that psychosis does not disappear on its own.
If left untreated, the condition can worsen and cause more distress and disruption to the individual and their family and friends.