What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a term that is used to describe a mental condition where somebody is unable to distinguish between reality and their imagination. People who are experiencing psychosis are referred to a psychotic. People with psychosis often experience:

• hallucinations - hearing, or seeing, things that are not there, and
• delusions - believing things that are untrue.

Psychosis is not a condition in itself - it is a symptom of other conditions. The most common cause of psychosis is a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Psychosis can also be triggered by physical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, or as a result of drug or alcohol abuse.

How long someone will experience a psychotic state of mind - known as a psychotic episode - will depend on the underlying causes. Drug, or alcohol, induced psychosis many only last for a few days. However, psychosis that is caused by schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, may last indefinitely unless it is treated.

How common is psychosis?

Psychosis is more common that most people realize. Some people will only experience one psychotic episode, while others may experience a number of episodes throughout their life.

Treating psychosis

Prompt treatment is recommended for psychosis because studies suggest that the earlier the condition is treated, the better the long-term results tend to be. In the short-term, medicines are used to treat the symptoms of psychosis in order that the person is no longer a danger to themselves, or to others. The long-term treatment will depend on the underlying causes.

Psychosis is not the same as psychopath

The term psychosis should not be confused with the term psychopath. The two conditions are very different.

Someone with psychosis has an acute condition that, if treated, can often lead to a full recovery. A psychopath is someone who has an incurable anti-social personality disorder, which means that they lack the capacity for empathy, are manipulative, and often have a total disregard for the consequences of their actions.

Unlike people with psychosis, people with anti-social personality disorder can appear to act in a rational manner.