Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders. People with psychosis lose touch with reality due to delusions and hallucinations. They may struggle with understanding what is real, and what is not. Psychosis has been found specifically to be linked to excess neurotransmitters, specifically increased activity of the dopamine neurotransmitter. The hippocampus, insula and prefrontal cortex are tied to psychotic symptoms, this is likely where the increased neurotransmitter activity is located. There are multiple mental disorders that aren’t psychosis, but share the same symptoms as psychotic disorders.
While psychosis is not a typical symptom of depression, it can be a symptom of severe or psychotic depression. Four out of 1,000 people are affected by psychotic depression. People with psychotic depression may hear things, or experience strange illogical ideas such as believing other people are trying to harm them. People with this severe depression may get angry for no apparent reason at all, they may spend much of their time alone, or they might stay awake at night and sleep during the day. They often neglect taking care of themselves. This form of psychosis is different from others because the hallucinations and delusions are consistent with depressive themes. Treatment for this disorder includes hospitalization and antipsychotic medication. The medication is meant to regulate the neurotransmitter communication in the parts of the brain that regulate our ability to organize information to perceive the world around us. This disorder is extremely treatable.
It is not uncommon for people with bipolar disorder (BPD) to experience psychosis. It’s possible that later development of psychosis in BPD may be related to childhood trauma. The occurrence of psychosis in BPD seems to be related to stressful events or other situational crises, the symptoms are consistent with hallucinations and delusions. Psychosis in BPD and schizophrenia are very similar, but differ in how many voices are heard; persons with BPD psychosis don’t often hear more than one to two voices, while a person with schizophrenia often hears multiple. The treatments for the psychosis will be similar to the treatment for psychotic depression, but bipolar disorder has no found cure.
Schizophrenia affects how a person thinks, behaves, and feels, it is often diagnosed in late teen years to early 30s. Schizophrenia develops with hallucinations and delusions. Common types of delusions experienced with schizophrenia are persecution (others are a threat to them), grandeur (they are gifted), reference (certain unrelated cues are related to themselves), and control (they are being controlled by outside forces: aliens, government). If the disorder is left untreated, a person may become violent to others and harmful to themselves. Treatment includes medication and counseling. People with schizophrenia need lifelong treatment. It is a terrifying disorder that can affect anyone.
If you know anyone presenting with any of the psychosis symptoms listed, please reach out to The National Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787. It is extremely important that they get treatment before their symptoms get worse.
