Types of Psychosis
Psychosis is a symptom that can happen in various mental health disorders. It’s when a person loses touch with reality. They may hear or see things that aren’t there (hallucinations) or believe things that aren’t true, even when others don’t share those beliefs (delusions) or have confused or unclear thinking that makes it hard to communicate or make sense of what’s happening around them.
Here are some types of psychotic disorders and their descriptions:
- Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is one of the most common types of psychotic disorders. It involves a mix of symptoms, including hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and delusions (believing things that are not true). Schizophrenia can run in families and can show up in different ways for different people.
- Schizoaffective disorder: Schizoaffective disorder is a condition where individuals experience both psychosis and a mood disorder. It is most known for its mood disorder traits, such as depression and bipolar disorder (BD). Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can include hallucinations, paranoia (intense fear or suspicion that others are trying to harm or trick you), and delusions.
- Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a type of mood disorder that is cyclical, meaning the mood changes happen in a repeating pattern, with periods of extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression). During manic episodes, individuals with bipolar disorder may experience symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions.
- Catatonia: Catatonia is a condition that affects a person’s movement and is linked to mental health disorders. It was once considered a subtype of schizophrenia but is now recognized as its own mental illness. Catatonia is estimated to affect around 10 percent of people with mental health disorders.
While these types of psychotic disorders have unique characteristics, there are also similarities across them:
- Genetic factors: Many psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, have genetic components. This means that certain genes may increase the risk of developing these conditions.
- Brain abnormalities: Research has shown that individuals with psychotic disorders may have specific differences in their brain. For example, a decrease in white matter fractional anisotropy (FA), which helps with communication in the brain, has been seen in different mental health disorders. Problems in the prefrontal and temporal lobes, as well as fibers connecting these areas, have also been found in individuals with schizophrenia.
- Shared symptoms: While each type of psychotic disorder has its own set of symptoms, there are overlapping symptoms across different disorders. Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia can occur in multiple types of psychosis.
Understanding the similarities and differences in brain problems across the different types of psychotic disorders is crucial for making better diagnoses and finding more effective treatments in psychiatry. However, it's important to remember that each individual's experience with psychosis may vary, so it's always best to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment options.