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Chronic psychosis

Description

Psychosis, in general, can be defined as an “illness of the brain in which thoughts are disordered & reality distortions occur like having hallucinations & delusions”. These symptoms are characteristically evident in various diagnostic categories such as schizophrenia (lifelong mental psychotic condition), bipolar disorder (mania or depression), and dementia (loss of cognitive capacity). Psychosis doesn’t have any fully described tissue pathology but is mostly identified & assessed symptomatically (by symptoms).

Chronic psychosis is a brain disease where psychotic symptoms play an important part of the illness picture & require proper treatment. People who experience psychosis have thoughts that are different from reality (delusions). Some individuals also experience social withdrawal & loss of motivation. These experiences are frightening & it may cause people experiencing psychosis to hurt themselves or others. Hence it is important to seek immediate medical help when you or someone you know starts having symptoms.

Causes

The cases of psychosis are different from each other and its exact cause isn't always clear. Commonly it can be linked with:

  • Due to certain illnesses like 1) brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (brain disorder leading to difficulty in coordination), Huntington’s disease (causes uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability), and chromosomal disorders 2) brain cysts/tumors.
  • Dementia leads to psychosis, like in Alzheimer’s disease (a disorder that slowly destroys memory), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or syphilis (a bacterial infection spread by sexual contact), some types of epilepsy, & stroke.
  • Drug use (abuse)
  • Lack of sleep
  • Environmental factors.
  • Hormones (people experience postpartum psychosis after giving birth)
Risk factors

The risk factors of psychosis cannot be precisely known, and you cannot exactly say who will develop psychosis. But some say that:

  • Genetics play a role in psychotic disorder i.e. if you have a family member with a past psychotic disorder, then you may also likely develop symptoms.
  • Children who are born with a genetic mutation known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, have the risk of developing a psychotic disorder.
Symptoms

Its symptoms may include:

  • Depressed mood
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Anxiety
  • Either sleeping too much or very less
  • Suspiciousness
  • Delusions
  • Hallucinations
  • Having disorganized speech like changing topics erratically
  • Suicidal thoughts or actions
  • Depression
  • Cold detached behavior & inability to express emotions.
Diagnosis

Its diagnostic steps involve:

  • Doctors take brief psychiatric & medical history
  • Brief physical exam
  • May get blood tests
  • Brain imaging like MRI scans (medical imaging technique) which helps rule out physical illness or drug use (cocaine or LSD)
  • In case of no physical symptoms found, the patient is sent to a psychiatrist or psychologist. They will use specially designed interview & assessment tools to detect the cause.
Management

Psychosis is well managed with:

  • Medications: mainly doctors prescribe antipsychotics which are effective at managing troubling symptoms of psychosis, like delusions, hallucinations, and thinking problems. Both older & newer antipsychotics are used. Doctors mostly prescribe the newer ones (which have fewer side effects) as compared to older ones.
  • Psychotherapy: it is basically counseling which can be individual, in a group, or with a family member.
  • Most of the patients are cured outpatient i.e. they don't live in institutions.
  • The ones with more severe symptoms of hurting themselves are hospitalized and then treated.
When to consult a doctor?

If you or anyone you see showing signs & symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking/speech, and are concerned about them having psychosis; then immediately seek medical help. Consulting a doctor on time will help prevent the patient from harming themselves or others.

Available Medicine for Chronic psychosis

Motival

Rs.91.27

GlaxoSmithKline

Flucate 25 mg

Rs.118.84

Akhai

Psycate 25mg

Rs.125.85

Surge