Skip To Section
What Are Psychotic Disorders?
Psychotic disorders are mental illnesses that are characterized by a loss of touch with reality or a distorted sense of reality. This distortion is caused by general confusion, delusions, or hallucinations that impair a person’s perspective and, consequently, their sense of judgment. Psychotic disorders are marked by two major symptoms:
- Hallucinations – Feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there.
- Delusions – Believing falsities to be true even when they’re proven false, such as believing the media is sending subliminal messages.
These symptoms vary depending on the person and the psychotic disorders they are dealing with.
Interestingly, hallucinations and delusions are not always symptoms of a psychotic disorder. They may be caused by drug use or a neurological disorder. The presence of a psychotic disorder must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist.
The main types of psychotic disorders are:
- Schizophrenia: A condition that causes changes in behavior, delusions, and hallucinations for longer than six months. It is often inherited genetically, with a higher chance of onset in those with a family history of the illness.
- Schizoaffective disorder: This mental illness consists of schizophrenia and episodes of mania and depression. Experts are still doing their best to understand the disorder and have separated it into two categories: depressive (schizophrenia with depressive episodes) and bipolar (schizophrenia marked by periods of mania and depression)
- Postpartum psychosis: This occurs only in 0.1 to 0.2 percent of women who have given birth. It is less common than postpartum depression. A family history of psychosis appears to influence its onset. Women experiencing postpartum psychosis require immediate treatment and are at increased risk of suicide.
Signs of Psychotic Disorders
A person might display serious red flags from the very beginning of the onset of a psychotic disorder. These signs and symptoms differ from one disorder to another, making them difficult to diagnose.
As mentioned, hallucinations and delusions are typical of any psychotic disorder. Along with these main symptoms, people suffering from schizophrenia or other forms of psychosis may exhibit:
- Disorganized and/or incoherent speech
- Brain fog and confused thinking
- Unusual and sometimes even dangerous behavior, putting themselves at risk for no clear reason
- Slowed or unusual movements
- Lack of personal hygiene and diminished appearance
- Loss of interest in hobbies, activities, and even people that once brought them joy
- Constant problems at school, work, and/or personal life
- Acting colder or more detached, even unable to express emotions
- Recurrent mood swings or other mood disorder traits, like mania or depression
- Paranoid behavior and/or suspicious towards people and situations around them
The most commonly diagnosed psychotic disorder is schizophrenia. About 50% of people with schizophrenia also have another behavioral or mental illness. This is what is known about the illness so far:
- Schizophrenia usually starts between the ages of 16 and 30.
- Men generally exhibit symptoms around late adolescence or as young adults.
- Women tend to show symptoms of schizophrenia in their late 20s and early 30s.
- Children and adults who are 45 or older are rarely diagnosed with schizophrenia.
- People may exhibit subtle signs years before schizophrenia fully develops.
Substance Misuse & Psychotic Disorders
Drug use and psychotic disorders often co-occur. Evidence shows that signs of psychotic disorders are often brought on or worsened by substance use. People suffering from psychotic disorders tend to prefer alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis consumption. What drives someone with a psychosis disorder towards substance use, however, varies.
Some people see substance use as a way to self-medicate for the symptoms they are already experiencing. For others, substance use causes imbalances in brain function that trigger dormant psychosis. Experts also suggest that psychotic symptoms can be triggered by those who have no tendencies to develop a psychotic disorder. No matter which one “comes first,” psychotic disorders and substance misuse feed off of and affect each other.
Substance use disorders and mental health issues are affected by similar risk factors, such as environmental factors or genetic predisposition.
Because symptoms of substance use often mimic symptoms of psychosis, many psychotic disorders go undiagnosed when substances are involved. In these cases, treatment must address both issues until an accurate mental health diagnosis can be reached.
Treatment For Dual Diagnosis
Dual diagnosis means that a person suffers from both a mental health and substance use disorder. About 60% of people struggling with addiction are also diagnosed with a mental illness. A study also revealed that 74% of people experiencing their first psychotic episode engaged in substance use.
Before a doctor considers a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia as a final diagnosis, they will rule out other mental health disorders, substance addiction, and other medical conditions. The process of diagnosing schizophrenia will likely include:
- A medical exam. This will let your doctor rule out any physical conditions or complications.
- Testing. Blood tests, alcohol and drug tests, and brain scans, such as a CT scan or MRI, are often used. These give doctors a better understanding of your general health. It also allows them to see any imbalances that might trigger some symptoms of psychotic disorders.
- Mental health evaluation. This will be done by a psychiatrist to rule out other mental health disorders or issues. Your family and medical history will be discussed as well.
- Screening for psychotic disorders. A mental health professional will screen for a psychotic disorder using the DSM-5 and their observations. Small details can make a big difference regarding diagnosis.
Once a diagnosis is made, a treatment plan can be created. With dual diagnosis, both disorders must be addressed, or the untreated disorder might trigger the other again.
Medications
Antipsychotics like haloperidol, fluphenazine, and chlorpromazine are available to help manage symptoms of schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics are also sometimes used, including clozapine, olanzapine, and quetiapine. Both antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics are known to have side effects, but they can greatly reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Counseling
Counseling can help clients dealing with psychotic disorders. Commonly used approaches are cognitive-behavioral therapy, family and group therapy, and contingency management. Considering how disabling schizophrenia and other disorders are, the goal of counseling is to help clients become more independent.
Aftercare
Once a treatment program is finished, an aftercare plan will help clients maintain stability. People suffering from schizophrenia will need psychiatric attention and follow-up all their lives. Licensed professionals will be able to tell if there are signs of relapse. Clients taking medication need to do so under the supervision of a mental health professional. Therefore, they will need to have a psychiatrist to work with after treatment at a facility ends.
Support groups are also an important part of aftercare. They allow members to foster a sense of community while working toward recovery.
For those with an unstable living environment, sober living houses are a safe, often affordable option if substance use is part of the diagnosis. Those suffering from psychotic disorders would need to check if their choice of housing would provide assistance to them.
Resources For Treatment For Psychotic Disorders
Dealing with a psychotic disorder, especially when combined with a substance use disorder, or trying to help a loved one with these conditions, is not easy. The resources below offer information on treatment programs, counseling, and other forms of help.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline: SAMHSA’s national helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year. They can provide useful information and connect you to community resources.
- SAMHSA’s Online Services Locator: You can search for specific types of treatment by location. There are options available in every state.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 for a confidential helpline during moments of crisis, particularly if you are feeling suicidal.
If you want to learn more about what your options are for dual diagnosis, psychosis, and addiction, contact us today. We at Elevare Behavioral Health will be happy to answer all your questions and provide the information you need for treatment. Both psychotic disorders and addiction require lifelong treatment, but both disorders can be managed. People with both conditions live fulfilling, robust lives, and we can help you achieve that.
Our admissions team is available 24/7 to listen to your story and help you get started with the next steps.
