Psychosis

Help with psychosis in Sydney

We each craft our own reality. But that reality is traditionally based on an objective reality – where the world around us and what we believe is proven to be true. However some people struggle with conditions that cause them to have distorted perceptions of reality.

They may:

• See things that are not there (visual hallucinations).

• Hear things that are not there (auditory hallucinations).

• Hold onto grand false beliefs despite evidence (delusions).

• Trouble maintaining logical thought processes.

• Unusual movements or physical behaviours.

Some individuals will experience these symptoms relatively persistently, whilst others will only experience them within the context of discrete episodes. The nature and experience of psychotic symptoms differs greatly between disorders as well as between individuals.

What causes psychosis?

There is no one cause of psychosis. But there are certain risk factors that can make you more vulnerable to psychosis. These include genes (inherited factors) and the environment you are exposed to in life, such as:

• Family history of mental illness.

• Head injury.

• Alcohol and drug use (especially cannabis and amphetamines).

• Trauma history.

• Stressful life events such as abuse, being bullied or a big life change.

What are the symptoms of psychosis?

Symptoms of psychosis vary from person to person and may interfere with day-to-day life. Signs of psychosis may be mild at first and become more serious over time. Symptoms include:

• Delusions and confused thinking – beliefs that people from your background don’t usually believe.

• Hallucinations – hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting or touching something that isn’t actually there.

• Suspicion or paranoia.

• Lack of initiative and interests.

• Preoccupation with unusual ideas or beliefs.

• Change in function at school, work or home.

• Change in relationships.

• Changes in mood, irritability or anger.

• Avoidance of normal activities and social contact, isolation.

• Changes in self-care (ie, personal hygiene).

• People who experience psychosis are rarely violent. They are more often frightened, confused and despondent (low, down on themselves).

What are the different types of psychosis?

There are several types of psychosis, depending on what has caused it.

Drug-induced psychosis – using or withdrawing from drugs, especially cannabis and amphetamines, can cause psychotic symptoms that last for short or long periods.

Brief reactive psychosis – psychotic symptoms that appear suddenly such as shortly after a trauma or major stress. This type of psychosis can also occur where there is in no apparent stress or trauma that triggers it.

Schizophrenia – a mental health condition that affects a person’s thoughts and behaviours typically involving psychosis such as delusions and hallucinations which is a loss of reality in some form.

Bipolar disorder – this condition involves major changes including extreme highs and lows. You can experience psychotic symptoms as part of this disorder.

Depression – psychotic symptoms can occur in people with very severe depression. Read more about psychotic depression.

Contact Gordon Private Hospital

Psychosis Treatment Services

Psychosis is rarely manageable without help. About 1 in 200 people in Australia will struggle with psychosis at some point in their lives. When faced with this type of challenge, the sooner one can get help, the better the outcome will be. Early intervention, that is getting the right help and treating the psychosis early can change the trajectory of the illness.

When a person loses touch with reality, treatment becomes incredibly important. Modern medicine has made outstanding progress in developing medications that can help treat psychotic disorders. There is also some evidence to suggest that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may be indicated as an adjunctive treatment.

With a combination of effective medications, therapy, and follow up assessments, we’ll find a combination that can help our patients regain control of themselves and their future.