Psychosis

edited: June 1, 2025, 7:39 PM

December 10, 2024, 12:32 PM

Psychosis is a condition of the mind or psyche that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real.[3]

Symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations, among other features.[3]

Additional symptoms are disorganized thinking and incoherent speech and behavior that is inappropriate for a given situation.[3]

There may also be sleep problems, social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and difficulties carrying out daily activities.[3] Psychosis can have serious adverse outcomes.[3]

Psychosis can have several different causes.[4]

These include mental illness, such as:

schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder,

bipolar disorder,

sensory deprivation,[5]

Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome or cerebral beriberi[6]

and in rare cases

major depression (psychotic depression).

Other causes include:

trauma,

sleep deprivation,

some medical conditions,

certain medications, and

drugs such as alcohol,

cannabis,

hallucinogens, and

stimulants.[7]

One type, known as postpartum psychosis, can occur after giving birth.[8]

The neurotransmitter dopamine is believed to play an important role.[9][10]

Acute psychosis is termed primary if it results from a psychiatric condition and secondary if it is caused by another medical condition or drugs.[7]

The diagnosis of a mental-health condition requires excluding other potential causes.[11]

Testing may be done to check for central nervous system diseases, toxins, or other health problems as a cause.[12]

Treatment may include antipsychotic medication, psychotherapy, and social support.[1][2]

Early treatment appears to improve outcomes.[1]

Medications appear to have a moderate effect.[13][14]

Outcomes depend on the underlying cause.[2]

In the United States about 3% of people develop psychosis at some point in their lives.[1]

The condition has been described since at least the 4th century BC by Hippocrates and possibly as early as 1500 BC in the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus.[15][16]