Psychosis: signs, symptoms, treatment. Classification of acute psychoses
Psychosis is a serious illness in which a person loses touch with reality, and the reaction to everyday life is dulled. There is mass psychosis, comorbidity disorders, and more.
General information
This disease, like many others, entails metabolic disorders. You should not assume that the patient is wrong or has uncontrolled behavior. It's the same thing, but in different manifestations. There is no need to be afraid of patients suffering from such an illness. This is a fairly common and widespread disease. It is believed that about 15% of patients in mental hospitals are patients with psychosis.
Various types of psychoses can be caused by certain diseases, such as asthma, epilepsy, vegetative atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, etc.
In addition, people who use drugs, alcohol, and medications are at great risk. In this regard, accurate recording of patients is impossible. There are cases when such a condition was caused by sound vibrations with a frequency of 1.5-2 Hz (ultrasound). For example, one rock band used ultrasound in their compositions for greater effect, which caused a mass disorder, later called “American psychosis.” People hastily left the concert, explaining that they felt fear and anxiety.
A person susceptible to this disease loses touch with reality. False images (hallucinations) may appear in the mind, and voices may be heard urging action or inaction. All these factors change the patient’s behavior: causeless crying or laughter, euphoria or anxious feelings. For some, this manifests itself as a delusion of persecution, while a person may claim that someone is pursuing him, another will claim that he is capable of incredible acts, and a third pursues, for example, the object of his adoration, recognizing him as his property for no reason, and much more. other.
In mass psychosis, a mass (crowd) of people is affected, inspired by false judgments and ideas about what is happening. This could be religious worship, political dictatorship, mass passion for social networks and computer games, natural disasters, etc. In cases of mass psychosis, mass suicides, self-immolations, and migration of people can also occur. People susceptible to mass psychosis lose the ability to evaluate the current reality objectively, which is a very dangerous consequence. Such crowds are subject to suggestion from individual sources, which can provoke the crowd to cruel and irreparable actions. But fortunately, not everyone is susceptible to mass psychosis.
Senile and manic psychoses
Senile psychosis occurs in older people (senile psychosis). People of any gender over 60 years of age are susceptible to it. It manifests itself as schizophrenia or a manic-depressive disorder. It does not lead the patient to dementia, as is commonly believed when comparing it with another illness (for example, senile dementia).
Manic psychosis is a very complex mental disorder, the manifestation of which is increased activity, spontaneous good mood, accelerated speech and motor activity. The frequency of manifestation is protracted and lasts from 3 months to 1.5 years. Moreover, it may refer to circular psychosis. Circular psychosis is a state of periodicity of psychosis occurring in different phases. At all stages of the disease the following symptoms appear:
- High spirits appear for no reason; there is a surge of optimism, despite difficulties and failures. No psychotic syndrome is expressed. The person is very self-confident and feels a surge of energy. During this period, a person makes contact easily, is very sociable and helpful. But in an argument with such a person, sharp aggression and pickiness manifests itself.
- Accelerated speech is caused by rapid train of thought and thinking in general. A person during this period is very productive, he has many plans and ideas. Many masterpieces were created during such periods by creative people. The disadvantage is that everything conceived and started by a person is very rarely completed. Due to the increased activity of the brain, attentiveness also increases, it is difficult for a person to concentrate, an involuntary change in direction occurs, and absent-mindedness occurs. In addition, memory improves, and involuntarily a person can remember a song or poem, or quote writers. Ideas related to work or hobbies may arise, but others do not understand the meaning and connection with actions and statements. During such a period, a person may make impulsive decisions, quit his job or change his place of residence. A woman often radically changes her appearance and dresses provocatively to attract the opposite sex. Increased sexual activity is also characteristic of these periods.
- Increased physical activity. During the period of manic psychosis, the human body receives a hormonal surge. He is cheerful, strong, constantly on the move. It is difficult for a person to sit still, even after sleeping for only 3-4 hours, the body does not feel tired. Appetite increases, but weight does not increase, since all calories are burned by the activity of the brain and body. The person feels healthy, and it is very difficult to convince him. He will react violently to requests from family and friends to see a doctor.
Amphetamine, endogenous and hysterical psychoses
Amphetamine psychosis. Psychosis can occur both after long-term use and after the first increased dose. This psychosis is a mental disorder caused by brain intoxication. The patient loses touch with reality, sensitivity is impaired. A single use of a large dose of amphetamine causes acute psychosis, the condition of which lasts up to one week, and long-term use leads to psychosis lasting a month or more.
Symptoms of such psychosis are:
- paranoid delusions;
- visual and vocal hallucinations;
- increased excitability;
- motor activity;
In this state, a person is dangerous both to himself and to others. During this period, it is impossible to contact the patient. The reaction will be inadequate even to family and friends (symptoms and course are similar to hashish psychosis).
Endogenous psychosis is a mental illness. The reasons for this are factors of body malfunctions. These include schizophrenia, epilepsy and other psychoses. When manifested, it is associated with increased irritability, mood swings and increased performance. Low stress tolerance can cause the patient to feel persecuted and suicidal. Constant experiences force a person to turn to unconventional methods of deliverance (magic, religion). In this case, the person will not be aware of the events happening to him.
Hysterical psychosis is more of a person’s reaction to a stimulus. If a patient has various types of psychosis, a type of disorder may also manifest itself, which is characterized by expression in the form of screams, chaotic movements, flight, and stupor.
Epileptic, steroid and depressive psychoses
Epileptic psychosis is a psychosis that occurs in patients with epilepsy and manifests itself in 5% of patients in the later stages of the disease. In this condition, the patient may exhibit autonomic disorders, accompanied by fear, causeless aggression, and problems with movement. In late manifestations of psychosis, visual and auditory hallucinations are noticed.
Steroid psychoses are caused by pathological processes of high levels of hormones. This type of psychosis is also called Cushing's syndrome. This may be due to an overdose or long-term use of steroids while treating another disease, such as asthma. Taking steroids causes some organs to malfunction. Symptoms are similar to alcohol and drug psychosis.
Depressive psychosis is the opposite of manic psychosis, in which there is a pathological decline in mood and activity. A person begins to evaluate his mistakes, thinking that he is doing everything wrong. He is bad at work, and in the family there is also a feeling of uselessness and helplessness in the current situation. A person is overcome by melancholy, laziness manifests itself, and he may experience attacks of suicide, but since the intellect is preserved during this period of psychosis, he will never show such a desire and will hide his plans until the end.
In acute manifestations of depressive psychosis, patients do not cry. They talk about how they want to cry, but they have run out of tears. Moreover, crying during such a period will mean an improvement in the condition.
All types of psychoses must be treated as early as possible. Remember that the patient is a danger not only to himself, but also to others. By contacting a psychiatrist, you will receive proper attention, complete treatment and confidentiality.
Psychoses are mental disorders that are characterized by productive symptoms.
Pathologies of this group are manifested by conditions that are characterized by true and false hallucinations, delusions, and illusions. Also, people suffering from psychosis experience disorders such as depersonalization and derealization.
Psychoses are expressed by a clear disturbance of mental activity, as evidenced by a disorder in the perception of reality and disorganization of behavior. Patients are characterized by an inadequate reaction, which grossly contradicts the actual situation.
Classification
If we talk about what types of psychoses there are, then we can distinguish two main categories of mental diseases:
- Organic origin.
- Functional origin (endogenous).
Organic psychoses arise as a result of damage to the brain matter during the development of diseases such as meningitis, syphilis and similar infectious pathologies. The cause of these types of psychoses can be atherosclerosis, leading to blockage of blood vessels and impaired cerebral circulation. Risk factors include stroke, which has more severe consequences than atherosclerosis.
Functional psychoses progress in the absence of the above diseases, that is, in conditions when the brain is physiologically healthy and complete. This category of mental disorders includes schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, affective disorders and their psychotic forms, as well as conditions when personality changes occur caused by paranoid phenomena.
Classifying mental illnesses according to their etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms of development, they distinguish not only organic and endogenous types of psychoses, but also:
- intoxication;
- reactive;
- senile;
- traumatic;
- affective.
According to the characteristics of the clinical picture and the predominant symptoms, mental disorders are divided into the following types:
- paranoid;
- depressed;
- hypochondriacal;
- manic.
Patients can be diagnosed with both independent and combined forms of neuroses - manic-depressive, depressive-hypochondriacal, depressive-paranoid, etc.
Psychoses are classified as complex diseases that manifest themselves with different symptoms and are difficult to diagnose.
Let us consider the main, frequently occurring types of psychoses, their characteristic signs and features.
Intoxication 
This group includes alcohol and withdrawal mental disorders that arose against the background of poisoning of the body with various toxic substances. In most cases, the cause of the development of the disease is alcohol abuse; therefore, as a rule, experts consider alcoholic psychosis, which manifests itself in such forms as:
- Hallucinosis.
- Delirium.
- Paranoid.
Alcoholic hallucinosis is often a consequence of drinking surrogate alcohol, which causes intoxication of the body. Patients are bothered by visual disturbances and auditory hallucinations of a condemning nature, occurring mainly in the evening and at night. Periods of physical activity may be observed, provoked by the desire to hide from others and get rid of intrusive voices.
Delirium tremens is better known as delirium tremens. This form of intoxication psychosis is the most common. Signs of mental disorders appear when you stop drinking alcohol after a long binge. Patients experience various hallucinations, mostly frightening in nature, very realistic and frightening. At the same time, consciousness becomes darkened, motor activity increases and persecution mania disturbs.
Alcoholic paranoid manifests itself suddenly, mainly during a period of prolonged drinking. The main symptom is delusion of persecution, when patients feel that they want to encroach on their lives and cause harm. The condition may worsen and be accompanied by auditory and visual hallucinations. People with this illness are afraid of everything and everyone, and often turn to law enforcement agencies asking for help and protection.
If alcohol is consumed constantly and in large quantities, then acute intoxication psychosis passes into the chronic stage, its clinical picture becomes more vivid and pronounced. Chronic forms of alcoholic psychosis:
- Delirium of jealousy.
- Hallucinosis.
- Pseudoparalysis.
- Korsakov psychosis.
Alcoholic delusions of jealousy develop at the stage of personality degradation. Patients, often representatives of the stronger sex, lose contact with loved ones, especially with their other half and children. A firm conviction arises that the spouse is cheating, and there are even false confirmations of this. Over time, interest in children also disappears. Men delve into the past, trying to find facts of betrayal, further heating up the situation.
Chronic alcoholic hallucinosis has symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia. This form of the disease progresses against the background of repeated attacks of hallucinosis and delirium. Personality degradation is not observed in this case. When you quit alcohol, the symptoms lose their severity and may completely recede.
Pseudoparalysis develops mainly in men and is manifested by a decrease in muscle strength, impaired motor reflexes, and involuntary vibrations of the limbs (tremor). Disorders also occur in the functioning of the central nervous system. Representatives of the stronger sex who abuse alcohol are in euphoria and feel omnipotent (delusions of grandeur).
Korsakov's psychosis is expressed by memory impairment and signs of delirium that occur against the background of damage to nerve fibers due to taking large doses of alcohol.
Jet
Such mental disorders are the result of psychological trauma. Depending on the period after which signs of the disease appeared, acute and subacute reactive psychosis are distinguished. The main symptoms are attacks of hysteria, disordered excitement, increased emotional sensitivity, fear, desire to take cover and hide. At the same time, pathology can drive patients into a stupor and make it impossible to think normally.
Senile
Mental disorders caused by age-related changes in the body are observed in men and women aged 65 years and older. The main cause is the course of atherosclerosis, which affects the vascular system of the brain. This disease is characterized by pronounced manifestations of the character of patients or, conversely, a complete decrease in skills and disappearance of interests. Over time, memory impairment occurs, and mild signs of delirium may appear. The pathology progresses slowly and often has irreversible consequences.
Traumatic
These types of psychoses develop as a result of severe trauma. Most often, the predisposing factor is the presence of victims in a coma. This disease is characterized by an acute short-term course, vivid hallucinatory phenomena, increased motor activity and severe fear.
Affective
Mental disorders of this type are represented by manic-depressive syndromes. Signs of psychosis occur periodically, and attacks are characterized by increased mobility. The desire for action is sharply replaced by apathy and passivity. In rare cases, personality changes occur.
All described types of psychoses adversely affect the state of the nervous system and the body as a whole, and therefore require mandatory adequate treatment!
Psychosis is a serious mental disorder; such a deep disturbance of the mental, emotional and affective components is considered quite dangerous for patients.
The disease manifests itself in a sharp change in the patient’s behavior, loss of an adequate attitude towards life and others, and a lack of desire to perceive the existing reality. At the same time, they interfere with the awareness of the presence of these very problems; a person cannot eliminate them on his own.
Due to the emotional component, hormonal explosions and susceptibility, other mental disorders occur twice as often in women (7 versus 3%, respectively).
What are the reasons and who is at greatest risk?
The main reasons for the development of psychosis in females are as follows:
One of the main reasons is increased emotional excitability or the presence of a similar disease in a woman’s family, mother, sister, that is, a genetic component.
Who's at risk
The root cause of psychosis is often alcohol abuse and subsequent intoxication of the body. In most cases, men are most susceptible to alcoholism, so women suffer from it much less often and tolerate it faster and easier.
But there is also a reason that is specific only to women, which increases the risk of the disease. This is pregnancy and childbirth. Physical factors for the appearance of psychosis in this case include toxicosis, vitamin deficiency, decreased tone of all body systems, various diseases or complications due to difficult pregnancy and childbirth.
Psychological ones include fear, anxiety, increased emotional sensitivity, and unpreparedness to become a mother. At the same time, postpartum mental disorders are more common than during pregnancy.
Features of behavior
Women with mental disorders are characterized by such changes in behavior and life activity (with symptoms 
noticeable only from the outside, the patient herself has no idea that she is sick):
- lack of resistance to, which often leads to scandals;
- the desire to isolate yourself from communication with colleagues, friends and even loved ones;
- there is a craving for something unreal, supernatural, interest in magical practices, shamanism, religion and similar areas;
- the emergence of various fears and phobias;
- decreased concentration, sluggish mental activity;
- loss of strength, apathy, reluctance to show any activity;
- sudden changes in mood for no apparent reason;
- disturbances in sleep patterns, which can manifest themselves in both excessive drowsiness and insomnia;
- decreased or complete lack of desire to eat food.
If a woman herself was able to detect any signs of psychosis or her loved ones noticed them, then she urgently needs to seek qualified help.
Types of deviations in mental state
Psychoses can be divided into two large groups:
- Organic. In such cases, this is a consequence of a physical illness, a secondary disorder after disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.
- Functional. Such disorders are initially caused by a psychosocial factor and the presence of a predisposition to their occurrence. These include disturbances in the process of thinking and perception. Among others, the most common:, schizophrenia,.
Separately, it can be highlighted that it appears in 1 - 3% of women in the first months after the birth of a child, unlike the more common postpartum depression, psychotic deviation does not go away on its own and requires treatment under qualified supervision of specialists.
Symptoms:
- decreased appetite and rapid weight loss;
- constant anxiety, sudden mood swings;
- desire for isolation, refusal to communicate;
- violation of the level of self-esteem;
- thoughts about committing suicide.
Symptoms appear individually, for some they may appear within a day after birth, for others after a month.
The reasons for this type of psychotic deviation may be different, but they are not fully understood by scientists. What is reliably known is that patients who have a genetic predisposition are susceptible to it.
Mental failure can be accompanied by various conditions that provoke disturbances in the functioning of a woman’s entire body.
Violation of diet, activity and rest, emotional tension, taking medications. These factors “hit” the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and endocrine systems. The manifestation of concomitant diseases is individual.
Who should I turn to for help?
Self-medication in this case is contraindicated. You should also not contact familiar doctors of various specialties, psychologists, or traditional healers. Treatment should only be carried out by a public or private doctor - a highly qualified psychotherapist!
Unfortunately, a woman suffering from psychosis cannot seek help herself because she does not notice the signs of her illness. Therefore, the responsibility falls on the mother’s relatives and friends. It is necessary to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible.
The specialist will examine the patient, refer her for additional tests and, based on their results, prescribe treatment and the necessary medications.
Treatment can take place in a hospital setting with the participation of medical staff, or at home. When treating at home, a mandatory safety measure will be to care for the baby with the least intervention from the mother (in case of postpartum mental health problems). The nanny or relatives should take on these concerns until all the symptoms of the disease disappear in the patient.
Treatment usually consists of a complex, which includes:
- medications, usually;
- psychotherapy – regular sessions with a psychotherapist and family psychologist;
- social adaptation.
It is not immediately possible for the patient to fully understand and accept her condition. Relatives and friends must be patient to help the woman return to her normal lifestyle.
The consequences of lack of therapy are extremely unfavorable. The patient loses touch with reality, her behavior becomes inappropriate and dangerous not only for her own life and health, but also for those around her.
A person is suicidal and may become a victim or cause of violence.
How to prevent mental breakdown?
Preventative measures include:
Prevention should be a priority, especially for those women who are susceptible to emotional disturbances or have a hereditary predisposition to psychotic disorders.
All people experience emotions: positive and not so, strong and weak. They play an important role for humans. Nevertheless, acute psychosis occurs quite often in nervous and emotional people. This is what we will talk about.
What is psychosis
So, we are surrounded by many people. They all differ in their character and behavior. But among them there are also those that stand out especially among others. In a bad way. Their behavior is inappropriate. In most cases, acute psychosis played a role here.
Psychosis itself is behavior that manifests itself as inappropriate and unusual behavior. That is, a person suffering from this disease can easily be called inadequate. There are quite a few reasons for its appearance. Nevertheless, let's talk about where this disease can come from and how to deal with it.
Causes
Acute psychosis, the causes of which are quite extensive, most often occurs in adolescents and mature women. At this time, special changes occur in the human body, the mentality and consciousness changes somewhat. If during this period any unpleasant event occurs that “hits you on the head,” then residual emotions can develop into acute psychosis.
Thus, we can say that the main cause of any mental disorder is emotional shock. As a rule, negative. This also includes shock. Thus, people with a shaky psyche, suffering from paranoia, emotionally unstable and subject to sudden mood swings are prime candidates for this disease. After all, it’s easiest to shock them or “put pressure on their brains.”
Frankly, acute psychosis, which has not yet been treated, may not manifest itself for a long time. In other words, the patient has the opportunity to continue living peacefully among healthy people for quite a long time. True, until the first shock. As soon as the next shock occurs, expect hysterics and psychosis.
Does it go away on its own?
Many people very often ask the question: “Do mental disorders go away on their own?” As mentioned above, a person who is struck by acute psychosis can live peacefully for some time among healthy people. But at one fine moment “patience will come to an end” - an outbreak will occur, after which the patient will calm down again. Thus, the nature of the disease is cyclical. From time to time psychoses will appear again and again. This cannot be done without external intervention.
Although many psychologists argue that acute psychosis, which has not yet been treated, may be temporary. That is, with a low degree of probability, the patient has a chance of healing without unnecessary intervention. In fact, those psychoses that are associated with age and hormonal imbalances go away on their own.
So, before we begin to study and understand the problem in more detail, let's talk about who is most susceptible to this disease. After all, the nature of the “healing” depends on many factors.
Who is most susceptible
As a rule, teenagers and people close to people are most susceptible to psychosis. At this time, hormones are seething and playing pranks in the body. They are known to play a huge role in the behavior of all living beings.
In addition, acute psychosis often occurs as a “side effect” of intoxication or traumatic brain injury. In truth, any trauma inflicted on the body can cause mental disorders. Do not forget about some diseases that can also cause this disease. These include major operations and infectious diseases, especially severe ones. Plus, acute is quite common in women who have experienced abortion or the death of their own children. The shock from such “news” is so terrible that the body literally “goes out of control.”
Affect
One of the manifestations of acute psychosis is an affective state. Probably everyone knows it. This is that short, sharp period of time when a person does not understand what he is doing. Affect occurs, as a rule, in emergency situations that threaten life (natural disasters, fire, and so on). It can occur in excited and inhibited forms. In the first case, the patient begins to make sudden, panicky movements, rushes from side to side, asks for help and runs somewhere (usually towards danger). When acute psychosis stops, patients either do not remember what is happening, or cloudy particles of memories remain in the head.
During an inhibited reaction, as you might guess, the patient experiences partial or complete immobilization (or, more simply put, stupor). During this period, the power of speech is lost, one of two pictures freezes on the face: indifference to everything or horror. This condition can last from several minutes to several hours.
Ganser syndrome
This is a fairly common acute psychosis. Its treatment is almost impossible. During attacks, the patient answers a question that he clearly understands incorrectly. With all this, for him any words sound humorous. The patient laughs, fools around and gets lost in space. He doesn’t understand what kind of people surround him. Instead of laughter, crying and sobbing may appear.
Pseudo-dementia
A simpler name for this type of psychosis is false dementia. A person answers simple questions very stupidly, but is able to give the correct answer to something complex. His behavior will also be shocking, although it does not pose any danger. The big one can eat eggs straight from the shell, put boots on his hands, pull trousers over his head, and a jacket on his legs. With all this, there may be a stupid smile on your face. Memories after the “climax” - as if everything happened in a dream.
Puerilism
The acute form of which manifests itself in the childish behavior of an absolutely adult person is called puerilism. The patient is unable to perform basic actions, makes gross mistakes, calls everyone aunt and uncle, lisps, teases, and generally behaves “like a little child.” Children's phrases and mannerisms fly from their lips. However, adult behavior remains. For example, the habit of smoking or wearing makeup.
Hysterical stupor
Another acute psychosis is hysterical stupor. It manifests itself in approximately the same way as stupor in principle. The person refuses food and water, may stare at one point for a long time, anger or despair is reflected on the face, and the body is tense. At the slightest mention of a stressful or shocking situation, the patient blushes, becomes hysterical, and his pulse quickens. It may go away on its own, but lead to paralysis, gait disturbance and other hysterical symptoms.
Withdrawal
Acute (or narcotic) is popularly called withdrawal. It is caused by the body's reaction to a lack of alcohol or drugs. It usually occurs due to dependence on harmful substances. During psychosis, increased excitability and aggression are observed. When the patient wakes up, he is unlikely to remember what happened.
How to treat
Now that we know what acute psychosis is, the symptoms and the categories of people most susceptible to the disease, we can talk about how to get rid of the disease.
First, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease. This usually requires isolation of the patient. In an excited state, the patient is given antipsychotics and tranquilizers. In moments of depression, it is common to give antidepressants.
Psychotherapy and conversations with a psychologist play a special role. Once the underlying cause of psychosis is found, it can most likely be treated through talking and reassurance.
– a mental illness in which a person is unable to normally perceive the world around him and respond to it appropriately. Clinically, this mental disorder manifests itself in different ways. It can be an independent pathology or combined with other diseases - senile dementia, brain tumors, schizophrenia, delirium tremens.
At psychosis a distortion of reality occurs and the resulting “picture” is radically different from what other people see. Normal perception is hampered by voices in the head ordering something to be done, fear for one’s life, and visions. These changes lead to the patient’s reactions becoming completely inadequate: causeless anxiety or euphoria, tears or laughter. Some of the patients are sure that they have superpowers, others that the special services are hunting for them, and still others are compulsively pursuing someone.
There are examples when, after an experience psychosis the psyche is completely restored, but more often the disease takes on a cyclical course. Then, after a long period of mental well-being, an aggravation occurs: delusional ideas and hallucinations arise.
Types and classification of the disease
Psychoses may be sharp, passing within a month, reactive And chronic– This is a continuous stage of the disease, usually lasting after six months of symptomatic manifestations. The acute form of the pathology is characterized by a sudden and fairly rapid onset, for example, after a head injury. Reactive psychosis develops after a severe emotional shock (divorce, disaster, death of a relative) and is reversible; on average, complete mental recovery occurs after a year. This form of the disease can appear even after an explosion of positive emotions, especially in emotionally unstable people, these include women during menopause, people exposed to drug or alcohol intoxication, etc.According to etiology and causes, psychoses are:
Endogenous– they are usually facilitated by neurological, endocrine disorders, age-related changes (senile or senile psychosis). They can also be a complication of cerebral atherosclerosis, schizoaffective disorder, hypertension (somatogenic psychoses) and the result of pathomorphological changes in the brain (organic psychoses). The course of this type of psychosis is manifested by a protracted nature, constant recurrence, confusion, or depressive, paranoid and other conditions.
Exogenous- an external source of the disease can be industrial poisons, infections (influenza, syphilis, typhoid, tuberculosis), drugs, as well as severe stress. The main cause of development is alcohol, which, if abused, can cause alcohol psychosis.
At the same time psychoses are divided according to syndromic classification(main predominant symptoms) for certain species. Most common depressive And manic psychoses, in which an apparently healthy person exhibits symptoms of depression or excessive agitation. Such psychoses are called monopolar. If these 2 types alternate, then doctors talk about bipolar affective disorder.
Manic(or hypomanic) psychosis has 3 striking symptoms, observed from 3 months to 1.5 years: accelerated thinking and speech, causeless elevated mood, excessive motor activity. In this case, a painful increase in memory occurs, the actions of others are a source of anger, a desire to fight appears, what is started is rarely completed, it is difficult to concentrate, delusional ideas arise, and impulsive decisions are made.
Depressive psychosis lasts from 3 months to a year and is associated with brain pathology, depression begins unnoticed and slowly. The main signs of the disease: constantly depressed mood, physical and mental retardation. This form of psychosis is characteristic of highly moral, good people. The patient thinks only about himself, blames himself, looks for “mistakes” and shortcomings. A person's thoughts are centered around his personality, his mistakes and his shortcomings. A person has no doubt that there has been and never will be anything good in his life; in such a state he can commit suicide. With depressive psychosis, the condition is worst in the morning, and in the evening it rises, this disease is the opposite of neurosis, in which, on the contrary, the mood worsens at night.
Postpartum psychosis rarely develops. The first symptoms of the disease appear on average 5 weeks after birth. This mental disorder is manifested by hallucinations, paranoia, delusions and a desire to harm a child or oneself. The disorder can also begin during pregnancy, for example due to inattention, misunderstanding and cruel treatment of a loved one.
Mass psychosis is a crowd epidemic based on suggestibility and imitation. A disease affects a group of people, causing them to become possessed. The most popular mass psychoses these days are considered to be: virusophobia, computer gambling addiction, freebie mania, upgrade mania, chatomania and aerophobia. The induced form of the disease is approximately the same, the only difference being that here one person, usually mentally ill, purposefully instills delusional ideas in others.
Late psychosis– develops due to long-term use of metoclopramide or antipsychotics. It can also form against the background of its cancellation.
Involutional psychosis– occurs in older people, more often in women. Depression, melancholia, hallucinosis and paranoid behavior of late age may develop. The disease occurs more often in patients living in nursing homes.
Amphetamine psychosis- amphetamine and its derivatives, when taken regularly or in high dosages, cause constant anxiety and tension, delirium, visual and auditory hallucinations.
Vascular psychosis– the source of formation is vascular disorders of the brain (hypertension, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, hypotension). In this case, patients complain of ringing in the ears, morning headache in the occipital region, twitching of the facial muscles and numbness in the chin, cheeks, and nose.
Epileptic psychosis– often occurs as a complication of epilepsy, especially in childhood and adolescence. It usually goes away quickly, but in the later stages it can last for up to a year.
Paranoid psychosis– is more severe than paranoia, but more favorable than delusional disorder. In this case, affective disorders are accompanied by the idea of persecution, and pseudohallucinosis is possible.
Intoxication psychoses– the disorder develops as a result of the toxic effect on the body of industrial and food poisons, medicines, pesticides, and alcohol. In this case, delirium is observed, turning into stupor and coma. In the future, memory is impaired, intellectual abilities are reduced, and dementia develops.
Postoperative psychosis– appears in patients after surgery, mainly due to intoxication. At the same time, the person is restless, tries to escape, jump out of the window, and is delirious.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of psychosis are quite diverse, since the disease provokes disturbances in thinking, behavior and emotions. The clinical picture of the disease usually consists of movement disorders, delusions, hallucinations, delusional ideas, and manic-depressive disorders.Hallucinations can be visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, but most often they are auditory, in which the patient thinks he hears accusing, threatening or commanding voices. Moreover, they are so real that a person believes in them without a doubt.
During hallucinations, the patient suddenly falls silent, without speaking, and listens, laughs for no reason, or conducts a dialogue with an invisible interlocutor.
Brief interesting data
- Psychosis is translated from Greek as a mental disorder, the word itself consists of two other souls and a disorder of the state.
- ZNF804A is a genome associated with psychosis.
- According to statistics, people with psychosis are less likely to commit crimes than mentally healthy people.
Mood disorders can be depressive, while the patient practically does not eat, is lethargic, moves and communicates little, is pessimistic, is dissatisfied with everything, and sleeps poorly. In manic disorders, the symptoms are the opposite.
Delusional ideas are thoughts that do not correspond to reality, but it is impossible to convince the patient. Strange, mysterious phrases appear in speech. The patient’s personality always comes to the fore; for example, he is not only convinced that aliens exist, but is also sure that they came for him. A person uses protective actions (installs additional locks), is unreasonably convinced that he is sick or wants to harm him (they add poison to his food), etc.
Complications
Psychosis has virtually no complications. But, if the necessary therapy is not available, then a significant decrease in the quality of life occurs, posing a threat to the life of the patient and his loved ones, and brain activity is disrupted.Causes of the disease
The causes of psychosis can be:1. Poor heredity - at birth, a group of genes can be transmitted, which sometimes cause a disease at an early age, which occurs quickly and in severe form.
2. Brain injuries - the disease can develop a couple of hours or weeks after the injury.
3. Infectious diseases - mental disorders can be caused by intoxication after suffering from mumps, influenza, Lyme disease, malaria, leprosy.
4. Intoxication of the brain - often associated with the use of various substances, such as drugs (amphetamine, heroin, LSD, opium, PCP) and medications (corticosteroids, cardiac glycosides, sulfa and anti-tuberculosis drugs, diuretics, NSAIDs, clonidine, H2-histamine blockers, antibiotics).
5. Alcoholism - psychosis, as a consequence of constant consumption of alcohol in large quantities, is not uncommon, and poisoning of the body and disruption of the functioning of nerve cells occurs.
6. Pathologies of the nervous system: epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, temporal lobe epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
7. Diseases that occur with severe pain: sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis, myocardial infarction.
8. Brain tumors - compressing brain tissue, disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses and blood circulation.
9. Systemic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatism.
10. Severe attacks of bronchial asthma.
11. Hormonal disorders due to childbirth, abortion, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, ovarian pituitary gland, adrenal gland and hypothalamus.
12. Deficiency of vitamins B1 and B3 and electrolyte imbalance caused by changes in the content of calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium.
13. Mental trauma (stress) and nervous exhaustion (lack of sleep, overwork).
Diagnostics
Only a psychiatrist can make a diagnosis of psychosis after performing a pathopsychic and laboratory examination, and conducting special tests that are usually used to assess the severity of delusional ideas.Treatment
Treatment of a mental disorder should begin as soon as possible; the prognosis of psychosis depends on this. A psychiatrist primarily uses medications to relieve acute symptoms of the disease. The tablets prescribed to them must be taken strictly according to the schedule. In the first stages of the disease, treatment takes about 1.5-2 months, in advanced cases it will take up to a year.Therapy for psychosis consists of several groups of drugs:
Neuroleptics (Zeldox, Solian, Fluanxol);
Normotimics (actinerval, contemnol);
Benzodiazepines (zopiclone, oxazepam);
Anticholinergics (cyclodol, akineton);
Antidepressants (sertraline, paroxetine).
Relatives and friends should come to the aid of the patient and treat him with understanding. You can’t upset him, get into arguments, or provoke him into conflict.
There are psychological treatments aimed at raising self-esteem and learning to adequately perceive the world around. For this purpose, psychosocial training and addiction therapy, psychoeducation, psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, family therapy and art therapy are used.
Prevention
It is impossible to protect the patient from the pathology itself, but it is possible to reduce the likelihood of repeated attacks, for this it is necessary:Communicate more;
take medications prescribed by the doctor;
maintain a daily routine;
regularly attend psychotherapy classes;
exercise daily (swimming, running, cycling);
avoid drinking coffee;
do not visit the bathhouse, avoid overheating;
don't get overtired.
