what is psychosis?

Question

is it serious? are there any effective treatments?

Answer 1

Psychosis is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state in which thought and perception are severely impaired. Persons experiencing a psychotic episode may experience hallucinations, hold delusional beliefs (e.g., grandiose or paranoid delusions), demonstrate personality changes and exhibit disorganized thinking (see thought disorder). This is often accompanied by lack of insight into the unusual or bizarre nature of such behavior, difficulties with social interaction and impairments in carrying out the activities of daily living. A psychotic episode is often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality".

Answer 2

Psychosis can be the result of a mental illness such as bipolar, it is not in and of itself a disease or mental illness. The best treatment is to treat the condition that is causing the psychosis. And yes, it is very serious and can be life threatening if extreme.

Answer 3

Psychosis: In the general sense, a mental illness that markedly interferes with a person's capacity to meet life's everyday demands. In a specific sense, it refers to a thought disorder in which reality testing is grossly impaired.

Symptoms can include seeing, hearing, smelling, or tasting things that are not there; paranoia; and delusional thoughts. Depending on the condition underlying the psychotic symptoms, symptoms may be constant or they may come and go. Psychosis can occur as a result of brain injury or disease, and is seen particularly in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Psychotic symptoms can occur as a result of drug use, but this is not true psychosis. Diagnosis is by observation and interview.

Treatment is with neuroleptic medication, either the newer, safer, atypical neuroleptics like risperidone (brand name: Risperdal) or the older neuroleptics like haloperidol (brand name: Haldol.) In cases that do not respond to medication, electroshock therapy (ECT) is sometimes valuable.

Answer 4

The word psychosis is used to describe a group of conditions that affect the way a person thinks, feels and understands. Typically, a person may experience unusual or distressing perceptions such as hallucinations or delusions, which may be accompanied by a reduced ability to cope with usual day to day activites and routine. Someone who has these unusual experiences is described as having an episode of psychosis.
Psychosis is most likely to occur in young adults in their twenties and can affect anyone including men and women from all walks of life. It is quite common and approximately 4 out of every hundred people will experience a psychotic episode at some time in their lives. Most people make a full recovery from the experience.
Psychosis can lead to changes in mood and thought processing resulting in someone having unusual ideas. A person may appear to have some loss of contact with reality e.g. seeing or hearing things that other cannot.
Psychosis can have an influence on the following:
Perception - seeing, understanding and interpreting reality.
Cognition - thinking processes, logical progression of thoughts, ideas and memories e.g. thinking that you are being followed.
Mood - emotions, sadness, elation, anxiety, depression, feeling detached or extremely miserable.
Personality - sense of self and identity e.g loss of sense of self.
Behaviour – actions and response. Sometimes a person will feel they are not in control of their own thoughts anymore.
Movement - gestures, involuntary movements and posture e.g. sitting in one position for a long time.
Because all of the above are affected, relationships and jobs can also be distrupted.

Answer 5

Take some time out. Medications have their 'right' use. Be honest with yourself if you need it or if you don't. Not wanting to take them is understandable. Listen, everyone is psychotic because we all see the word in a very distorted and delusional way. It doesn't make you different. Some people have just gone a little more in one direction. Becoming aware of your mind, how your beliefs affect perception is the key to healing all psychological disorders. Vipassana is one tool and like all tools, it has it's limitations, but it's a great experience to anyone with a really open mind and serious heart. Don't know if it's for you, but you could check it out.

Source(s):
Vipassana Meditation and Drug Addiction
http://www.vri.dhamma.org/research/89sem...

Vipassana Home Page
http://www.dhamma.org/

Answer 6

Psychosis is a serious condition, and its normal behavior not to want to take your medication, however its impossible to get any better without taking them. You must listen to yuor doctor and take the needed medicine, if you dont your condition will get worse, and you will be endagering your self and others.

Answer 7

psychosis is sort of like hearing things thoughts people talking but they dont tell you to harm youself or others, any mood disorder drug is effective in keeping them away

Answer 8

yes, it is serious. most serial killers had psychosis. get to a psychiatrist, and have em subscribe something for u.

Answer 9

fragmentation of the sense of self

can be very serious

see a psychiatrist for treatment

Answer 10

when an individual creates a fantasy world to live in because the real world is either too confusing or difficult, they hear, see and perceive things that are not there