Psychotic attack symptoms. Psychosis and symptoms of its development in women. Course and prognosis of psychotic states

Psychosis is one of the most common types of mental disorders and ranks second in incidence (after depression).

Pathology often develops in representatives of the stronger sex in young and middle age. However, women also suffer from psychosis, but their illness manifests itself somewhat differently. What do you need to know about the signs of the disease and how to recognize its development?

Psychosis is a deep mental disorder that is considered a rather dangerous and serious disorder. The disease is expressed in an inadequate attitude towards life and the world around us, in a radical change in behavior and in an unwillingness to perceive reality. The development of psychosis prevents the awareness of existing problems, so patients cannot take measures to eliminate and solve them.

The general and main signs of this pathology are:

clouding of consciousness, incoherent thinking (delirium);
loss of self-awareness - depersonalization;
loss of contact with reality, alienation from the surrounding world - derealization;
auditory and visual hallucinations;
strange, inappropriate behavior.

The first reason for the development of psychosis and the appearance of the listed symptoms is alcohol intoxication of the body. As you know, alcoholism is more common among men, so women suffer from this mental disorder less often and tolerate it more easily.

Female psychosis and its causes

Risk factors for developing the disease among the fair sex include:

organic brain damage;
drug intoxication;
somatic pathologies with a chronic course;
prolonged depression;
alcoholism;
addiction.

In rare cases, pregnancy becomes a provoking cause for the exacerbation and occurrence of psychosis in women. Violation of vitamin balance, disruption of the endocrine system, severe bleeding - phenomena that can lead to mental disorders. Etiological factors of female psychosis can also include toxicosis, decreased vascular tone, and various complications during pregnancy. Both pregnancy itself and childbirth contribute to increased sensitivity and susceptibility to traumatic situations. Therefore, young mothers are often diagnosed with reactive psychosis. It is worth noting that after childbirth, mental disorders in women are detected much more often than during pregnancy.

Manifestations of the disease

Let us consider in detail the clinical picture of mental disorders in women. As pathology develops, the nervous system of patients loses its resistance to stress, so any conflict situation can end in hysteria and scandal. Emotional sensitivity increases, difficulties arise in communicating with colleagues and family. Women with mental disorders tend to isolate themselves from the outside world and stop contacting friends and relatives. Female psychosis is characterized by a tendency towards something unusual and unnatural, a manifestation of interest in magic, religion and the like.

Symptoms of psychosis in women:

sleep disturbance, which is expressed in insomnia or, conversely, in an excessive desire to sleep;
decreased or complete lack of appetite;
sudden mood swings;
depression, apathy, depression;
a clear decrease in mental and physical activity;
presence of feelings of fear, phobia;
loss of concentration;
desire to isolate yourself from the world;
distrust of loved ones and others.

Psychosis in pregnant women is accompanied by increased anxiety, a pronounced feeling of fear and anxiety, which are associated with the child’s own health and well-being. Women become lethargic and tearful, and constant worries lead to exhaustion of their body. Mental disorder in pregnant women resembles premenstrual syndrome, but the condition is more severe and can worsen every day. Disturbing feeling of confusion, confusion of thoughts, inability to concentrate. Psychosis during pregnancy most often develops in women prone to depression and neurosis.

Postpartum mental disorder must be distinguished from postpartum depression. Symptoms of psychosis in women during this period manifest themselves in hostility towards the baby, depressed mood, indifference, and anger. This psychotic state is quite dangerous and requires adequate treatment. Patients do not make contact with their husbands and emotionally distance themselves from the child and close relatives. Pathology can also be expressed in endless guardianship, excessive care for the baby, and strong fear about his health. Quite often, women suffering from postpartum psychosis invent non-existent illnesses, see everything as a threat to the baby, and protect him from communicating with relatives and even with his father.

Symptoms of psychosis in women should not be ignored, because the sooner treatment is started, the greater the chance of a complete restoration of the nervous system!

Quite often, various malfunctions are observed in the human body that disrupt the functionality of internal organs and systems. Among such failures, mental disorders that manifest themselves in the form of psychosis should be highlighted. In this article we will look at what psychosis is and try to understand the various nuances of this condition.

Psychosis is a severe form of mental disorder

First, let's look at how this mental disorder manifests itself. The term “psychosis” is used to designate a special mental state in which a person loses the ability to adequately perceive the world around him. Occurring events are perceived by the “affected” consciousness in a distorted form.

Against the background of problems associated with perception, a person loses the ability to control his behavior.

Often the development of psychosis is accompanied by a change in thinking and problems with the perception of reality. To the above symptoms you can add memory loss and bouts of hallucinations.

Clinical picture

Psychosis is a complex mental disorder that can have a latent course. That is why it is almost impossible to determine the development of pathology in the early stages. Some symptoms characteristic of the disease have certain similarities with hereditary diseases and various syndromes. There is a certain pattern of development of the pathology in question, thanks to which an accurate diagnosis can be made.

At the initial stages of the development of psychosis, the patient experiences changes in behavior patterns that manifest themselves in the form of atypical reactions. At the next stage, the perception of the surrounding world is disrupted, which provokes changes in consciousness. Next, the balance of the emotional background is disturbed, which is expressed in the form of a discrepancy between the feelings experienced and the situation. There are also more pronounced symptoms of the disease, which we will discuss below.

Accompanying psychosis are delusional states, sudden mood changes, hallucinations, and states of agitation.

Psychotic thinking

Psychotic thinking is one of the key symptoms characteristic of this pathology. As psychosis develops, a person’s thinking patterns change, which leads to the emergence of erroneous statements and opinions. It should be noted that such thoughts extend to the entire environment. The transformation of the perception of the surrounding world covers various areas, which significantly changes the usual life activities. Many people with this diagnosis try to prove to others that their opinion is correct, despite facts proving the opposite. There are six independent forms of delusional ideas:

Depressive ideas– in this situation, a person suffering from psychosis suffers from thoughts of committing sins or negative actions towards other people.
Somatic delirium– in this state, a person feels the slow decomposition of his body and suffers from a characteristic odor.
Megalomania– this symptom manifests itself in the form of an elevation of one’s own personality above other people.
Persecution mania– “inflamed mind” makes a person feel the fear of persecution and surveillance. Such ideas often push patients to create additional conditions for safety.
The idea of impact– in this situation, the patient has a strong belief that he has the ability to influence the world around him with the help of supernatural forces.
Delirium of relationships– in this case, the patient attaches importance to various phenomena occurring in his life. Some of the patients are firmly convinced that various television programs are shown on television only for their sake.

Attacks of hallucinations

Numerous symptoms of psychosis may manifest as bouts of hallucinations. In such a state, a person experiences specific sensations from sounds and smells that are actually absent. Despite the fact that auditory hallucinations are the most common, in some cases the patient may see various images that are not present in reality.

During an attack, a person feels a voice in his head that begins to control his behavior. Under the influence of one or more voices, the patient can harm others and himself. Changes involving sensory perception are much less common. A person experiences a feeling of pain, freezes from the cold or is exhausted from the heat, being in comfortable conditions.

Changes in the emotional sphere

Emotional changes are most often observed in women. This symptom can be described as a rapid change in mood, accompanied by swings from a positive mood to a depressive syndrome. Similar symptoms of psychosis in women are expressed in the form of depression, apathy and hypersensitivity. In some cases, a person’s emotional state may be within normal limits, however, a whole storm of different feelings will rage inside his mind. Often, such mood swings are accompanied by a state of “stupor”.

Many symptoms of acute psychosis can occur in a mild form long before the disease itself

Problems related to communication skills

A disease such as psychosis often manifests itself in the form of problems relating to the patient’s communication with other people. The development of the disease leads to verbal impairments, as a result of which a person loses the ability to correctly express his own thoughts. During a conversation, a person begins to jump from topic to topic, leaving many sentences unsaid.

The patient’s speech itself takes on a distorted form and a chaotic character. Problems with expressing one's own feelings force a person to resort to methods of non-verbal communication, which is carried out using various body movements and gestures.

Memory loss

According to medical statistics, people diagnosed with psychosis often suffer from partial or complete memory loss. In this situation, various memories that are associated with his life fall out of the patient’s memory. In some cases, the patient's memory is completely erased, and true memories are replaced with fictitious facts.

Personal disintegration

This symptom manifests itself against the background of memory loss, transformation of the perception of the environment and other problems listed above. Loss of the relationship between emotions, thoughts and actions leads to complete personality degradation. Disability is expressed in the form of inability to perform basic everyday activities. It is this symptom that allows specialists to make an accurate diagnosis with confidence, without resorting to the method of differential diagnosis.

Before considering the various forms of the disease, it should be said that different types of psychosis have their own characteristic features, which are expressed in the form of specific symptoms.

Forms of psychosis

There are several different forms of the disease in question, each of which has its own characteristic features. The depressive form of mental disorder has a slow development rate. In the first stages of the development of the disease, the symptoms characteristic of the pathology are invisible both to the patient himself and to the people around him. The average duration of development of the disease can vary from thirty days to twelve months. This form of the disease is characterized by frequent changes in a person’s mood.

Psychosis is a mental illness in which a person cannot adequately perceive the surrounding reality and respond to it appropriately.

The development of a depressive form of the disease forces a person to immerse himself in his inner world, constantly analyzing his own shortcomings and mistakes in life. Most thoughts have a negative connotation, which leads to sadness, melancholy and other manifestations of a depressed state. At this stage of the disease, a person becomes vulnerable to various irritating factors that can only worsen his condition.

The causes of psychosis, which have a depressive form, are associated with a slowdown in mental reactions and metabolic processes. Against this background, concentration decreases and memory problems arise. In some patients, experts note physical inhibition and fading reflexes. Against the background of the above problems, behavior changes and appetite disappears. In severe cases of the disease, the patient may periodically fall into a state of stupor.

Another very common form of psychosis is manic, which is characterized by increased agitation and mood swings. A patient with this diagnosis “expresses” through his behavior a positive attitude and optimism, despite various life difficulties. However, this state can quickly be replaced by causeless aggression and feelings of anger. Under the influence of a mental disorder, the pace of thinking and the speed of speech change, which accelerate several times. Experts note that such great personalities as Kafka and Bulgakov suffered from this form of psychosis. It was during attacks of manic psychosis that these people created their works.

As the disease progresses, most patients experience increased physical activity. The development of psychosis leads to the activation of hidden energy reserves in the body. A surge of energy forces the patient to constantly perform various actions and constantly be in motion.

Much less often, patients are diagnosed with a manic-depressive form of mental disorder. According to statistics, symptoms and signs of psychosis are diagnosed much more often in men than in women. The form of the disease under consideration combines various elements of the clinical picture characteristic of manic and depressive psychosis.

Psychosis is not just a wrong train of thought

The above symptoms of the disease alternate. At a certain stage in the course of the disease, a person falls into a prolonged depression, which is replaced by a light interval, after which elements of a manic disorder appear. In the case of a severe form of pathology, light spaces may be completely absent.

A separate category is the acute form of psychosis. Symptoms characteristic of this condition are severe and sudden in appearance. This type of mental disorder is characterized by rapid development. There are many different symptoms for this condition. The key feature of the acute form of mental disorder is the gradual transformation into other types of psychosis.

Hydrocyanic psychosis, often called senile mental disorder, manifests itself at the age of sixty. Symptoms of this disease most often affect memory and perception of the surrounding world. The nature of this pathology has a certain similarity with the manic-depressive form of psychosis. It should be noted that this form of the disease has characteristic differences with senile dementia, in which patients show signs of decreased intelligence. The cause of senile psychosis is associated with somatic diseases and age-related changes in the body.

Treatment methods

When considering the symptoms and treatment of psychosis, you should focus on methods for solving the problem. Let's look at what techniques are used by specialists for psychological correction of the patient's psyche. Most often, treatment of the disease in question is carried out in small groups. Psychotherapists use techniques such as art therapy, psychological analysis, cognitive treatment, occupational therapy and psychoeducation. The latter technique involves teaching the patient various techniques to combat the disease.

In cases with severe pathology, the use of various medications is allowed. The most commonly used drugs are from the group of antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and normotics. With the help of the latter, it is possible to normalize the patient’s psycho-emotional balance and normalize the perception of the surrounding world.

It is important to note that all medications are used in strict accordance with the prescribed dose.

Only regular use of prescribed medications allows you to achieve a lasting, positive effect. In addition to the above groups of medications, anticholinergic blockers are used, among which drugs such as Cyclodol and Parcopan should be highlighted. Most medications used in the treatment of psychosis are sold in pharmacies only with a prescription from a doctor.

If both parents are affected, the child has a 50% chance of developing the disease. If only one person is sick, then this figure does not exceed 25%. Sometimes the parents do not have psychosis, but the child receives abnormal genes from previous generations.

Traumatic brain injury

Mental disturbances can develop within hours or weeks after the injury.
The more complex the damage, the more intense the manifestations of psychosis will be.
This form of the disease is caused by increased intracranial pressure.
It usually has a cyclical course, in which symptoms of psychosis are followed by periods of health.

Brain intoxication Exogenous psychoses can be a consequence of the influence of various factors:

drugs - can cause the development of schizophrenia, a person develops cocaine or hashish psychosis;
alcohol – systematic consumption of alcoholic beverages causes poisoning of the body, which negatively affects the state of the nervous system;
medications - many drugs have a toxic effect on the nervous system.

Pathologies of the nervous system

The development of psychosis can be the result of epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease.
All these pathologies lead to disruption of nerve cells, which causes swelling of brain tissue and problems in its functioning.

Infectious pathologies

The disease can be a consequence of influenza, mumps, Lyme disease, or malaria.
The fact is that microorganisms are a source of toxins, which leads to poisoning of neurons.

Tumor formations in the brain Such problems put pressure on the brain tissue, causing disruption of the blood circulation in it and the processes of impulse transmission. All this can cause psychosis. Bronchial asthma

Severe attacks of this disease lead to the development of oxygen starvation and panic attacks.
Oxygen deficiency provokes the death of neurons, and stressful situations lead to disruption of brain function.

Pathologies that provoke severe pain

These include ulcerative colitis, myocardial infarction, and sarcoidosis.
Physical discomfort negatively affects a person’s emotional state.

Systemic pathologies associated with problems in the immune system

These include lupus erythematosus and rheumatism.
Toxic substances produced by microorganisms have a negative effect on the condition of nervous tissue.
As a result, the nervous system malfunctions and psychosis develops.

Deficiency of vitamins B1 and B3

These substances are responsible for the normal functioning of the nervous system.
If they are lacking, it becomes more sensitive to external factors.

Electrolyte imbalance

May be the result of too much or too little calcium, potassium, magnesium or sodium.
Such disorders are the result of prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, long-term diets, and improper use of mineral supplements.

Hormonal disorders

Such changes may be the result of childbirth or abortion.
They can also be caused by problems in the functioning of the ovaries, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.
Long-term imbalances in hormones lead to problems in brain function.
Severe changes in hormone levels in the body often provoke acute psychosis.

Mental turmoil

The disease can be a consequence of severe stressful situations.
Also, mental disorders are often caused by nervous exhaustion, insomnia, and fatigue.
The influence of these factors leads to disruption of blood circulation and metabolic processes between brain cells, which provokes the development of psychosis.

Risk factors

Psychoses can appear at different periods of life. For example, adolescents experience a hormonal explosion, which can lead to schizophrenia.

Manic-depressive psychoses often develop in young people leading an active lifestyle. At this age, important changes often occur that put a strain on the psyche.

In a more mature period, syphilitic psychoses may appear, since mental disorders appear 10-15 years after infection with this disease.

In older people, psychosis may be caused by menopause, vascular or neuronal dysfunction.

Problems with blood circulation often provoke the development of senile psychosis.

Gender	Psychosis affects both men and women equally often. However, the type of this disease may depend on gender. For example, manic-depressive psychosis is much more often diagnosed in women. Depressive states without excitement are also more often observed among the fair sex. This is explained by the fact that hormonal changes occur more often in the female body. In men, psychosis is more often caused by chronic alcoholism, trauma and syphilis.
Place of residence	According to statistics, psychosis most often affects people living in big cities. This is due to the high pace of life and a large number of stressful situations. However, the average temperature or light level does not have a particular effect on the prevalence of the disease.
Social factor	Psychosis often develops in people who have failed to realize themselves socially. These include women who were unable to start a family and men without a successful career. Also, psychosis often develops in people who chose the wrong profession or were unable to realize their abilities. In such situations, a person constantly experiences negative emotions, and prolonged stress negatively affects the state of the nervous system.
Psychophysiological constitution	Melancholic and choleric people are more prone to developing the disease, since they are considered unstable.

Species

The most commonly observed types of psychoses are:

Cocaine	This disease is a consequence of drug poisoning. Such psychosis is accompanied by the appearance of delusions of persecution. A person may also experience tactile hallucinations. Sometimes drug psychosis causes delusions of jealousy or grandeur.
Alcoholic	Such psychosis is characteristic of severe stages of alcoholism. The acute form of the disease can be the result of binge drinking, hangover, or prolonged withdrawal from alcoholic beverages. This condition is characterized by the appearance of hallucinations, persecution mania, and increased anxiety.
Manic-depressive	This psychosis is situational in nature and is accompanied by long-term remissions. This disease is endogenous in nature and most often is a consequence of hereditary predisposition or situational parameters.
Traumatic	This disease is a disorder of psychomotor reactions that develop as a result of damage to the head and central nervous system. Such patients experience headaches, sleep disturbances, and dizziness. Somatic pathologies, consumption of alcoholic beverages or severe stress may act as provoking factors.
Epileptic	This pathology is an acute paranoid reaction that manifests itself in the form of seizures. It occurs in people who suffer from epilepsy, most often temporal lobe. The duration of such psychosis can be several weeks.
Vascular	It is a consequence of damage to cerebral vessels. In this case, a person develops increased suspicion, jealousy, and poisoning mania.
Hysterical	This form of psychosis affects people with hysterical personality traits. The disease is accompanied by a distortion of the perception of reality, a state of stupor, pseudodementia, and increased anxiety.
Psychosis during pregnancy	This condition is associated with a change in the woman’s lifestyle and condition. Often accompanied by forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, problems concentrating, and difficulty perceiving information.
Schizophrenic	This group of mental disorders is characterized by loss of orientation and perception of reality, which is accompanied by delusions, atypical behavior and hallucinations.

Symptoms of psychosis

Some people behave strangely, refuse food, and react too emotionally to surrounding events. Other patients experience complete apathy and indifference, they move and talk little.

So, the main symptoms of psychosis include the following:

Hallucinations	In psychosis, tactile, taste, and sound hallucinations may develop. Sometimes the functioning of the organs of vision or smell suffers. However, in most cases, auditory hallucinations are observed, which consist in the fact that a person hears voices. To identify such disorders, you should pay attention to the following symptoms: the person suddenly freezes and begins to listen; suddenly falls silent; laughs for no apparent reason; talking to himself; cannot concentrate on a conversation.
Affective or mood disorders	They may be depressed or manic. a person sits for a long time, does not want to communicate or move; feels dissatisfied with his life; refuses to eat or, on the contrary, constantly eats; wakes up at 3-4 o'clock in the morning. Symptoms of manic disorders include the following: the person becomes very active; increased sociability and verbosity of speech appears; an optimistic mood arises; a person significantly overestimates his own strength; the need for sleep decreases; the person may drink a lot of alcohol or engage in promiscuous sex.
Delusional ideas	In this case, a person begins to have thoughts that do not correspond to reality. However, he cannot be convinced by logical arguments. In addition, patients express their own ideas very emotionally and are firmly convinced that they are right. This condition is characterized by the following manifestations: delusion is very different from reality; a person’s personality is always at the center; a person behaves in accordance with a delusional idea; the patient talks very emotionally about his ideas; performs defensive actions for no apparent reason; can be sure that he is seriously ill; the patient becomes confident that he has made a unique invention; may invent reasons for jealousy or look for evidence of betrayal; may file endless lawsuits.
Movement disorders	With the development of psychosis, movement disorders can have a different nature. Sometimes lethargy develops. In this case, the patient freezes in one position and remains motionless for a long time. In addition, he may refuse to communicate and eat.

In other cases, motor agitation is observed. In this case, the movements become very fast, but at the same time aimless.

Emotional facial expressions are also observed. A person can imitate the sounds of animals or mimic the speech of other people.

Symptoms of psychosis are always a reflection of the patient's personality. During illness, the inclinations, fears and interests of a healthy person intensify.

Involutional

Involutional melancholia is a depression that is accompanied by anxiety and delusions. Most often, this disease is observed in women 50-65 years old.

This form of psychosis is characterized by depressed mood, confusion, anxiety, and fear. A person may experience motor restlessness and increased fussiness. In this condition, the patient may try to commit suicide.

Sometimes auditory illusions are added - in the conversation of others, the patient may hear reproaches or accusations. Delusional ideas may also arise, which manifest themselves in self-accusation, condemnation, and hypochondria.

People may also experience involutional paranoid. This form of psychosis is accompanied by the development of delusions against the background of apparently normal behavior and clear consciousness.

A person begins to suspect others of causing various troubles. At the same time, the delusional concept usually affects only the immediate environment.

Such people are characterized by increased activity, which is aimed at fighting imaginary enemies. At the same time, they almost never have a depressed mood.

Hysterical

Hysterical psychoses can occur in different forms:

Puerilism	Represents childish behavior. Patients may speak with childish intonations, play with dolls, or stomp their feet.
Pseudo-dementia	Consists in the development of apparent dementia. This form represents the apparent loss of simple knowledge. A person cannot perform simple arithmetic operations or count fingers.
Hysterical twilight disturbance of consciousness	In this case, there is a deception of perception, a narrowing of the field of view, and a violation of orientation. Vivid imaginative visions and strong visual hallucinations may occur.
Delusional fantasy syndrome	In such a situation, unstable ideas of one’s own greatness or significance arise. Fantasies are changeable and depend on external factors.
Hysterical stupor	This condition is characterized by severe lethargy, confusion, and the person stops talking.

Depending on the duration of the disease and its severity, one condition may lead to another, or one person may have several disorders at the same time.

In pregnant women

Depression occurs most often during pregnancy. In this state, expectant mothers experience constant anxiety and fear.

They may feel guilty and depressed. This type of psychosis lasts quite a long time and is difficult to treat.

In addition to depression, pregnant women may experience signs of schizophrenia.

In this case, the following affective disorders appear:

apathy;
increased sensitivity to external factors;
decreased vitality;
dissatisfaction with one's health status.

If such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, because many mental disorders pose a danger to the mother and child.

Treatment

If symptoms of psychosis appear, you should immediately consult a psychiatrist. A qualified doctor will prescribe the necessary medications.

In some cases, there is a need for hospitalization:

the person is dangerous to himself and others;
the patient cannot independently provide for his needs;
If psychiatric care is not provided in time, the patient’s health will suffer great damage.

First aid

The health of people suffering from psychosis directly depends on the behavior of loved ones. Any careless word can lead to suicide.

This is why it is so important to provide first aid to a person in a timely manner:

You cannot argue with the patient if signs of manic excitement appear. This can lead to bouts of aggression. As a result, there is a risk of complete loss of his trust.
If a person shows increased aggression, you should remain calm and friendly. You need to take him away and isolate him from people, try to calm him down.
In most cases, suicides are committed by depressed patients. Therefore, during this period you need to remain vigilant and not leave them alone, especially in the morning.
You should hide all items that could be used to attempt suicide - medicines, weapons, household chemicals.
We must try to eliminate traumatic factors. It is important that the patient is surrounded by close people and a calm environment.
If delirium appears, you should not ask additional questions or find out details. You need to pay attention to any normal statements and continue the conversation in this direction.
If signs of hallucinations appear, you must calmly ask the patient what happened. To cope with this condition, you can choose some exciting activity.
It is not recommended to resort to the help of traditional healers. For treatment to be effective, the cause of the disease must be determined, and for this you need to use high-tech research.
If a person is calm and in the mood to communicate, he must be convinced to see a doctor.
If a patient refuses to go to a psychiatrist, he should be persuaded to visit a psychologist or psychotherapist.
If a person is considering suicide or harming others, emergency mental health care should be sought immediately.

Psychological support

Psychological methods must necessarily complement the use of medications.

Thanks to this you will be able to:

reduce manifestations of psychosis;
increase the patient's self-esteem;
avoid exacerbation of the disease;
teach a person to correctly perceive the surrounding reality;
eliminate the causes of psychosis;

Psychological assistance can be provided only after the acute manifestations of the disease have been eliminated. All methods can be divided into two categories - individual and group.

Individual sessions consist in the fact that the psychotherapist becomes a kind of replacement for the personal core lost by the patient. It calms a person and helps him correctly assess reality.

With the help of group therapy, the patient can feel like a member of society. A group of people with this disease is led by a person who has successfully dealt with this problem. Thanks to this, it is possible to instill faith in recovery and return to normal life.

The following methods can achieve good results:

addiction therapy;
family therapy;
art therapy;
psychoanalysis;
cognitive therapy;
occupational therapy.

Psychosocial training – metacognitive and social competence – can also be used.

Medicines

Successful treatment is impossible without the use of medications. They should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. The form of the disease is also important.

Manic look

The following categories of medications are used to treat manic psychosis:

Antipsychotics	These medications are responsible for blocking receptors that are sensitive to dopamine. Thanks to their use, it is possible to reduce the severity of thinking disorders, hallucinations and delusions. Such agents as Solian, Zeldox, Fluanxol are used.
Benzodiazepines	They are used in conjunction with antipsychotic drugs in acute forms of the disease. Thanks to this therapy, it is possible to reduce the excitability of nerve cells, relax muscle tissue, and cope with insomnia and anxiety. Oxazepam and zopiclone are usually prescribed.
Mood stabilizers	Such remedies prevent manic attacks, normalize mood, and help keep emotions under control. Actinval and contemnol are usually used.
	Help neutralize the side effects of neuroleptics. With their help, you can regulate the sensitivity of neurons. The doctor may prescribe cyclodol.

Depressed look

The following drugs are used to treat this type of psychosis:

Antipsychotic drugs	They help make neurons less sensitive to dopamine, which helps cope with delusions, hallucinations and normalize thinking. Quentiax, Eglonil, and risperidone are usually prescribed.
Benzodiazepines	Used for increased anxiety and worsening depression. Such remedies help reduce the excitability of the subcortical areas of the brain, eliminate fear, and relax muscles. Usually phenazepam and lorazepam are used.
Normotimics	These remedies help normalize your mood and prevent the onset of depression. Lithium carbonate is usually used.
Antidepressants	They help improve mood, eliminate increased anxiety, fear, and melancholy. Your doctor may prescribe sertraline or paroxetine.
Anticholinergic drugs	These medications help prevent the side effects of antipsychotic medications. These include Akineton.

Prevention

People who have experienced psychosis may experience a flare-up of their illness again. To reduce the likelihood of relapse, you need to take medications prescribed by your doctor.

Regular attendance at psychotherapy classes is important. They increase the patient’s self-confidence and provide motivation for recovery.

It is very important to maintain a daily routine. To do this, you need to wake up, eat and take medications at the same time. Thanks to this, you will be able to manage everything and worry less.

You should definitely communicate more. Patients suffering from psychosis feel comfortable in the company of people with the same illness. Therefore, it is recommended to attend self-help groups.

Daily exercise remains also important. An excellent option would be running, cycling, swimming. In order to promptly stop an attack of psychosis, you need to know what symptoms indicate its approach - changes in behavior, mood, and well-being.

Psychosis is a fairly serious disorder that significantly reduces a person’s quality of life and negatively affects his loved ones. Therefore, it is so important to begin treatment for this disease in a timely manner.

Thanks to adequately selected medications and proper psychological support, you can significantly improve your condition.

Psychoses, known in medical literature as psychotic disorders- These are clearly manifested mental illnesses. In this case, the mental activity of the person suffering from this illness does not correlate with reality, since reality is distorted in the consciousness. Manifestations are considered to be inappropriate behavior and symptoms that do not correspond to the norm.

Briefly about the disease

For the most part, psychoses are endogenous, that is, the causes of their occurrence are internal. Due to heredity, schizophrenia, diseases of an affective nature (depressive disorders), and schizoaffective psychosis can occur. Such diseases are the most severe and protracted. It seems to us that the identification of psychosis and psychosis is not entirely correct, since the former can be observed in a large number of mental illnesses, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, dementia, mental retardation, etc.

A transient psychotic state can be provoked either by taking medications or drugs, or it can be a psychogenic (reactive) psychosis, which is caused by severe mental trauma or shock (death of a relative or friend, threat to life). Science also knows other types and causes of psychosis: the so-called infectious (a consequence of an infectious disease), somatogenic (the cause is severe somatic damage to organs), intoxication (for example, an alcoholic mental disorder called delirium tremens).

Psychoses- very common disorders of consciousness. Thus, endogenous psychoses are diagnosed in approximately 5% of the population. But since different countries have adopted different approaches to defining such diseases, which are often very difficult to diagnose, statistical data differ.

We also do not have accurate data on how many people suffer from exogenous psychotic disorders (those of external origin). This is understandable: most of these pathologies occur in drug addicts and alcoholics. The manifestations of psychosis reflect the boundless richness and versatility of the human psyche. Therefore, we can indicate only the most common manifestations:

. First of all, they are divided into auditory, optical, olfactory, gustatory and tactile - depending on the analyzer. Hallucinations are also divided into simple (noise, calling) and complex (speech). Most often, these are voices heard by a person and emanating either from the outside world or from the patient’s head. They are so natural that the patient has no doubt about their reality. The following danger is associated with this. Because they can threaten, accuse, or command, a person perceives them either as a motivation to act (the patient, by obeying, may harm himself or those around him) or as an emotional assessment, which can aggravate a mental disorder.
. These are thoughts and conclusions that do not correspond to the state of things in the real world. They completely take over a person’s consciousness, and there is no way to convince him, explain the situation, or correct this condition. Such ideas are varied, but most often they are like this:

delusion of persecution - the patient believes that he is being watched in order to harm him in one way or another: to kill, defame, involve him in an adventure or conspiracy;
delusion of influence - the patient believes that he is influenced by psychics, aliens, radiation from intelligence equipment, radiation, black magic, witchcraft, induced damage;
delusion of damage - the patient thinks that they are trying to poison him, that things are being stolen from him, that they are being taken out of the house;
hypochondriacal delusion - the patient diagnoses himself with a very serious illness, often fatal, and does not believe the doctors who convince him that he is completely healthy.

In addition, delusions of jealousy, uniqueness, invention, foreignness, greatness, love, reformation and others are described.

Movement disorders. In this case, the patient is either inhibited (in a stupor) or too excited. In the first case, he moves little, often freezes in some position, does not eat, and his gaze is riveted to one point. If the patient is subject to psychomotor agitation, he continuously talks, moves, makes grimaces, teases people; in his actions he is subject to impulse and momentary desires, and then cannot explain his actions.
Mood disorders, the manifestations of which are depressive and manic states. In case of depression, the patient’s mood worsens, a melancholy feeling occurs, depression occurs, movements are inhibited, intellectual activity decreases, the desire to do anything disappears, the person is consumed by pessimism, and suicidal thoughts appear. If a person is in a manic state, then the mood is unmotivatedly high, muscle activity increases, mental activity accelerates, inflated self-esteem appears, unrealistic, even fantastic plans appear, the need for sleep disappears, but all desires are disinhibited, and the patient may begin to abuse alcohol or drugs , have sexual relations with many partners.

These are so-called positive disorders, which got their name due to the fact that these symptoms seem to be added to the mental state of the patient, as it was before the illness. Often, even after the symptoms of psychosis have completely disappeared, the patient begins to experience disorders called negative ones - in many cases they become the cause of very serious social consequences than the psychotic state itself. Such disorders received such a definition due to the fact that a person’s character, basic personality traits, and huge layers simply disappear from the psyche. Such people lose initiative and are lethargic and passive in most life situations.

It is often noted that the energy tone is significantly reduced, desires and the desire to perform any actions disappear, emotional dullness increases, the person seems to be fenced off from society, breaking off all contacts with other people. Often the former responsiveness, tactfulness, and sincerity are replaced by previously uncharacteristic anger, rudeness, and an unwillingness to coexist peacefully with loved ones. Thinking also undergoes serious changes: it becomes amorphous and loses its content. Such conditions in many cases lead to loss of ability to work and, consequently, to disability.

Course and prognosis of psychotic states

In most cases, especially with regard to endogenous diseases, a type of psychosis is diagnosed, which is called periodic. With it, at certain intervals, a person suffers from acute attacks of illness, caused by physical or psychological trauma or appearing unmotivated. The medical literature also describes a single-attack course of psychosis, which is more typical for young patients. Such people, after suffering one, but often very long attack, are cured after some time and never need the help of a psychiatrist.

But the course of the disease can also be chronic—symptoms appear throughout the patient’s life. If the case is not advanced and not complicated, the patient leaves the hospital after 6-8 weeks. During this time, doctors achieve complete disappearance of symptoms of psychosis and establish adequate supportive treatment. But if the manifestations of the disease are resistant to drugs, several courses of therapy are needed and, therefore, a stay in a hospital for six months or more. The patient’s family should not ask doctors to quickly discharge the patient - if the illness remains untreated, this poses a danger to both the person himself and his environment. Doctors believe that perhaps the most important factor improving the prognosis of psychosis is the timeliness and intensity of active treatment, combined with measures aimed at social rehabilitation.

Who is considered mentally ill?

The image of a person susceptible to mental illness has long been formed and has become stereotypical. Many people imagine him as an unkempt person with an inflamed, burning gaze, who is just waiting for an opportunity to pounce on someone. Such people are feared because they cannot understand the logic of their behavior and are unable to predict future actions. Such diseases are considered God's punishment not only for a person, but also for the entire family, so they cannot be gotten rid of. Stress, difficult life circumstances, family problems, and lack of a sexual partner are often cited as the cause.

There is a point of view that mentally ill people are weak individuals who simply do not want or are not able to change their lives. But they can also be maniacs, prone to serial murders and mass rape. It is believed that such people do not realize that they are unhealthy and are not aware of the need for medical help. It is unfortunate that the patient's relatives often share these views, find them advantageous, and behave in accordance with such misconceptions. They try in every possible way to hide the misfortune from others and do not turn to specialists. But this only aggravates the disease and leads to complete isolation of the mentally ill. Mental disorders are diseases that should not be ashamed, but treated like other ailments. They have biological reasons - they are caused by metabolic disorders in the brain. This makes mental illness similar to diabetes or other chronic illnesses.

A mental disorder is not a sign of weakness of character; it cannot be eliminated either by desire or willpower, just as hearing or vision cannot be corrected using similar methods. Such diseases cannot be contagious and are not transmitted from sick to healthy in any way. And it is important that statistics say that mentally ill people are less prone to aggression than healthy people. The hereditary factor in such patients does not appear more often than in those suffering from cancer or diabetes. If both parents are ill, the risk of having an unhealthy child is about 50%, if only the mother or father is ill - 25%. Most mentally ill people are aware of their status and want to get medical help, although they initially do not accept this situation. The position of the family is important here, which will greatly help the patient if it supports his desire for treatment.

In addition, it is important to remember that many creative people suffered from mental disorders, which did not prevent them from being realized in life and even enriching the world with discoveries and masterpieces.

Symptoms of incipient psychosis or its exacerbation

Relatives of mentally ill people would do well to familiarize themselves with information about how psychosis begins or what the symptoms of the advanced stage of the disease are. No less important are recommendations regarding the rules of behavior and style of conversation with a person who is in a state of illness. In everyday life, it is not easy to immediately understand what is happening to the psyche of a family member, especially if he is afraid, does not trust others, and does not complain of any discomfort.

Attention to indirect symptoms can be a decisive factor in determining a person's condition. Psychosis is a disease with a very complex structure; during its course there may be hallucinations, delusions, and emotional disorders. The following symptoms may appear either all together, or one of them predominates. Signs of auditory and optical hallucinations:

The person talks to himself, as if answering someone’s questions or remarks.
The patient laughs for no apparent reason.
The patient suddenly becomes silent, as if listening.
The person appears anxious or extremely preoccupied and is unable to concentrate on a conversation or task at hand.
An impression is created that a person sees and hears something inaccessible to others.

Signs of delirium:

The attitude towards friends and relatives changes, unmotivated hostility and secrecy appear.
The person speaks directly about implausible things (persecution, self-importance, or guilt).
Constantly curtaining the windows, carefully locking the doors, severe fear, anxiety and even panic.
Frequently expressing thoughts that danger had come over him and his family.
A person often makes statements that are completely incomprehensible to others and attaches special importance to his words.
The patient either refuses to eat or requests food testing.
Active litigation - complaints to various authorities about everything and everyone.

Correct response to the behavior of a mentally ill person

You should not ask or clarify the details of such statements and maxims.
You cannot enter into arguments with him or try to convince him or prove him wrong - there will be no positive effect, you can only do harm.
When a person is not irritated and wants to get medical help, listen to his speech, if possible, calm him down, support his desire to be treated.

Prevention of suicidal actions

Almost always, with depression, a person has desires to commit suicide. In this regard, the most dangerous conditions are depressive states complicated by delirium. Such patients are most prone to, which has the following manifestations:

A person often says that no one needs him or that he is very guilty before someone.
Looks into the future with pessimistic sentiments and does not make plans.
The patient hears voices calling for suicide.
Self-diagnosis of an incurable disease.
A sudden onset of calm after long-term melancholy or anxiety. This can deceive relatives, who will consider such a symptom a sign of improvement in the patient’s condition. In fact, he simply decided to leave and is putting his earthly affairs in order.

Measures to prevent suicide

Do not neglect the patient's conversations about suicide - they can reveal the seriousness of his intentions.
Contact a professional immediately if you suspect that a person is preparing to commit suicide.
Deprive the person of the opportunity to get hold of a possible suicide weapon - a knife, medicine, rope, and also do not let them onto the balcony, lock the windows.

What to do if one of your relatives is sick?

Naturally, the family’s first reaction to such a misfortune is confusion and fear, a refusal to believe the facts. Then people start looking for someone who can help. And at that time, many make the mistake of turning not to psychiatrists, but either to doctors of another specialization, or to healers, homeopaths, psychics, and herbalists. This happens because society has a deeply rooted myth about doctors who practically conduct experiments on patients. Even a consultation with a psychiatrist raises concerns - according to people, troubles follow: restriction of legal capacity, registration, impossibility of traveling abroad, deprivation of a driver's license, loss of prestige. In addition, many are convinced that the disease is caused by somatic, often neurological, causes, that such ailments cannot be cured by modern medical science. We should not forget that some patients and their relatives do not understand the severity of the situation, which leads to refusal of treatment. For the most part, such fears are unfounded. Only an appointment with a psychiatrist and the special treatment prescribed by him give a real chance of healing or significant improvement in the condition. More than ten years ago, registration with the psychoneurological dispensary was canceled.

There is consultative and therapeutic assistance and dispensary observation. This is a real help for patients who suffer from mild or short-term mental disorders. They are treated in the case when they voluntarily and independently came to the doctor, asked to prescribe treatment and agreed to take it. Minor patients under 15 years of age are treated with the consent or at the request of their parents or guardians. The dispensary observation population includes patients who have been diagnosed with severe, persistent or worsening mental disorders.

Clinical observation can be established in accordance with the decision of a medical commission of psychiatrists and does not depend on the consent of the person susceptible to mental disorders. Such observation involves regular examinations of the patient by specialists working in psychoneurological dispensaries. This form of monitoring a person’s condition can be canceled in the case when the patient is either completely healed or there is a noticeable, lasting improvement in his condition. In most cases, dispensary observation is terminated if the patient has not had any exacerbations of the disease for five years. The important point is that as soon as the first signs of mental disorders are noticed, frightened family members paint a terrible picture - their loved one has schizophrenia. However, they do not know that psychosis can be caused by other factors. Thus, you should not try to make a diagnosis yourself - each patient should be carefully examined by specialists in the field of psychiatry.

Often, timely consultation with a doctor can prevent very serious consequences, since the doctor can identify psychotic conditions caused by tumors in the brain, stroke or other somatic causes. A correct diagnosis can only be made by a highly qualified specialist who uses both traditional and innovative diagnostic methods. Naturally, people practicing alternative medicine do not have the necessary equipment or experience in identifying and treating mental illnesses. Accordingly, refusal of drug treatment in favor of dubious methods often causes consequences that can no longer be corrected even by qualified doctors.

When a patient refuses a timely visit to a doctor, and relatives do not show due attention and persistence, the patient does not receive timely consultation with a psychiatrist. As a result, he may end up in a psychoneurological dispensary in a state of either acute psychosis or at an advanced stage of mental illness. The time that was necessary to treat the disease at an early stage has been lost, and the disease has either become chronic or is in a form that is difficult to treat. If a person suffers from psychotic disorders and wishes to receive qualified medical care, this is possible in a psychoneurological dispensary in his city, in research institutes specializing in relevant diseases, or in the departments of psychotherapeutic or psychiatric care that exist in district and city clinics, from psychiatrists working in departmental clinics.

Treatment

As world medical practice shows, the use of medications most effectively cures psychoses and gives stable remission. When prescribing medications, template kits are not used - the prescription is purely individual. In this case, the doctor takes into account the patient’s gender and age and determines whether there are other diseases that could affect the course of treatment. Mutual trust between doctor and patient is of great importance. Only in this case can you inspire a suffering person, instill in him faith in a favorable outcome of therapy, overcome the fear of the psychotropic substances used, convince him not to change the treatment regimen under any circumstances, and comply with the requirements of specialists. If such contact is not established, the patient may violate the dosage regimen established by doctors and change the dosage of medications. In addition, it is very important to develop a social rehabilitation program for the patient, and in some cases, conduct psychotherapeutic and psychopedagogical consultations with the family.

Social rehabilitation is a series of activities combined into comprehensive programs that teach people with mental disorders how to behave correctly in a hospital setting and in everyday life after discharge. In addition, it helps to acquire or restore lost skills of cooperation with family and strangers. Considerable attention is also paid to teaching such a person ordinary household chores: how to shop, clean the house, manage finances, take care of himself, prepare food, ride public transport. There are programs that give you a new profession or help you return to your previous job. If we are talking about young patients, they are provided with assistance in obtaining secondary or higher education.

To enhance the effect of treatment, auxiliary psychotherapy is often prescribed, which changes the patient’s attitude towards himself and instills faith in his own capabilities and strengths. It is especially indicated for those who consider themselves an inferior person or deny the very presence of an illness. Psychotherapy provides an opportunity to adapt to reality and learn to cope with everyday difficulties. Individual classes alternate with work in self-help groups, when patients with similar diseases inspire each other.

Neuroleptic drugs as part of the treatment system for psychotic disorders

Neuroleptics (antipsychotics) are considered the most important drugs that cure psychosis. In the 1090s, atypical antipsychotics were invented - a group of drugs that exert selective neurochemical effects. This was a real breakthrough in the treatment of psychosis, since it is now possible to influence only individual nerve receptors. These medications are both much more effective and much better tolerated. Such substances have almost no extrapyramidal side effects.

The most prescribed and included in the “List of Essential Life-Saving Medicines” are (azaleptin) and rispolept (). Zyprex and . The first two of these drugs have shown to be very effective in the treatment of many psychotic conditions. In this case, practicing doctors prescribe rispolept first, and leponex is used in cases where previously prescribed treatment did not bring the desired results. This is due to certain features of azaleptin, specific side effects and complications. Their identification and correction involve regular testing of the patient.

Supportive and preventive treatment

The lion's share of psychotic disorders are psychoses that developed as a consequence of endogenous diseases. The course of such diseases is much longer and causes a greater number of relapses. In this regard, the internationally accepted recommendations for the treatment of psychotic conditions describe in detail the timing of all types of outpatient treatment: both supportive and preventive. For example, if a patient has had an episode of psychotic disorder, small doses of medication may be prescribed to prevent relapse over a year or two.

If the exacerbation recurs, then the duration of taking the drug is from three to five years. But if the doctor determines that the disease is showing signs of a chronic nature, then maintenance therapy can last an unlimited amount of time. It is for this reason that practicing doctors are confident that when a patient is hospitalized for the first time (less often for outpatients), it is necessary to carry out the longest course of drug therapy. This will help avoid relapses and give confidence in a favorable outcome. In addition, the most effective and complete course of social rehabilitation should be carried out. This is a colossal effort that will not be in vain. In most cases, successful first treatment helps to avoid repeated hospitalizations, because each subsequent psychosis increases the number of negative disorders, which are increasingly difficult to treat.

Preventing relapse of psychosis

In order to reduce the number of relapses of mental disorders, a person must lead a measured life, avoid excesses and stress. Regular but not exhausting physical activity, proper rest, a well-designed daily routine, proper nutrition, complete cessation of alcohol and drug intake, and compliance with doctor’s orders regarding the use of medications necessary for maintenance therapy have a good effect on mental health.

Below we list the most striking Signs of an impending relapse:

Any serious changes in a person’s behavior, daily routine or activity (sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, excessive irritability, causeless anxiety, different social circle, etc.).
The same behavior as before the previous exacerbation of the disease.
The occurrence of strange or uncharacteristic thoughts and speech.
Difficulty doing usual things.
Termination of consultations with a doctor and unauthorized refusal to take prescribed medications.

If you notice such nuances of behavior, you should as quickly as possible:

Tell your doctor about this so that he can prescribe a new treatment regimen.
Relieve an unhealthy person from stress and anxiety.
Reduce changes to your usual routine as much as possible.
Ensure that the patient is in a calm environment free of unpredictable changes.

In order to avoid exacerbation, the patient should try to avoid:

Early termination of maintenance treatment.
Changes in medication regimen and reduction in dosage without the knowledge of the doctor.
Nervous shocks and stressful situations both in the family and outside the home.
Excessive physical activity, including sports, and too much housework.
Various kinds.
Too much overheating of the body (on the beach, in the steam room).
Intoxication of the body in any way.
Sudden climate change while traveling.

Many people associate mentally ill people with unkempt and aggressive people who act illogically. However, people with mild psychosis often appear quite healthy. They are able to control their actions and express their thoughts correctly. Sometimes a disease can be detected only by indirect signs. The prognosis for treatment of psychosis depends on the form and severity of the disorder.

General information

Psychosis (psychotic disorder) is a pronounced manifestation of mental illness.

The disorder does not allow a person to adequately perceive the world around him. Reacting to an imaginary reality, the patient behaves unnaturally.

Psychotic disorder is not a sign of a weak character of the patient. Mentally ill people cannot get rid of their pathological condition by force of will.

It is very important to recognize the presence of the disorder and begin treatment for psychosis immediately. Often people refuse to admit that they are sick. If family and friends help a person understand his situation and provide him with moral support, he will strive to get rid of the pathological condition as quickly as possible.

Motivating the patient will make treatment more effective.

Signs of developing pathology:

An alarming signal is a sharp change in a person’s temperament. When an active, cheerful person becomes slow and apathetic, and a skeptic turns into an exalted person.
Symptoms of psychosis include absent-mindedness, an inability to concentrate on the topic of conversation or on a specific action.
The patient's concentrated gaze into emptiness should be alarming. If he follows with his eyes the movement of a non-existent object. Especially if he looks scared at the same time.
Conversations between a relative and an imaginary person should cause alarm when he argues with him, threatens him, or makes excuses to him.
If a person constantly talks to himself, these may be the first signs of an illness.
An unexpected reaction without cause can also be a symptom of a developing disorder. Unreasonable laughter, unexpected tears or hysterics.
If the patient is afraid to go outside, close the windows with curtains, put additional locks on the door, and check the food.
Sudden mood swings, expression of conflicting feelings, and inconsistent actions may constitute symptoms of psychosis.
A person sees germs everywhere and tries to disinfect everything. Constantly takes a shower and washes his hands.
You should be wary of meaningless statements and inappropriate answers.
The relative loses interest in his favorite dishes and experiences tastes that are not inherent to them. In psychotic disorder, decreased appetite is common.
He complains that insects are running all over his body.

Hallucinations and delusions

Patients suffer from hallucinations. Hallucinations can be visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory and tactile. They can be so bright that the patient cannot distinguish them from reality. Auditory hallucinations occur most often.

In psychotic disorders, delusions appear. This is an obsession that the patient sincerely believes in. He may begin to collaborate with fictional intelligence agencies, work for the government, feel the influence of aliens, or communicate with otherworldly forces.

Delirium can manifest itself very vividly and vitally. A person lives a separate life and carries out consistent actions in an imaginary world.

Mood disorders

With the development of psychosis, the patient may fall into a depressive state. He is overcome by sadness and longing. The future is seen only in black colors.

A person may develop persecution mania. Everywhere he sees ill-wishers, envious people who want to get rid of him. He considers his loved ones enemies. The patient may even commit violence against them, trying to protect himself from them.

In women, psychosis often occurs in the postpartum period. A young mother may be manically protective of her child or push him away. She blames herself for real and imagined troubles. She considers herself a bad mother and housewife.

Intrusive dark thoughts can cause suicidal thoughts. The most severe condition in patients with psychotic disorder occurs early in the morning.

Reverse transformation is also possible. The patient is constantly in an excited state, considers himself an unsurpassed speaker and wit. He makes grandiose plans, tries to take on many different jobs. He works tirelessly, exhausting himself mentally and physically.

Movement disorders

Mental abnormalities are accompanied by motor abnormalities. A person who has fallen into depression has an inhibited reaction, cannot immediately understand the meaning of what is said, and forgets to answer questions.

He can freeze in one position, become very slow, lethargic and lacking initiative. The patient forgets why he ended up in a particular place and how to return home.

He may have a slow reaction to external stimuli. A person loses the ability to experience positive emotions and does not feel the need for them.

With the enthusiastic type of psychosis, the patient may develop active facial expressions, he constantly talks and gesticulates intensively. Ready to jump up and run for no reason at any moment, to commit unmotivated actions.

Being in a playful mood, the patient may begin to fool around, grimace, tease people or provoke them. Overestimating his strength, the patient may try to commit a risky act. He may lose the need for sleep and experience disinhibition of drives (irrepressible sexual desire, drug abuse).

How do hallucinations and delusions manifest themselves?

One may suspect the presence of auditory and visual hallucinations if a person is having a full-fledged conversation with an invisible person. When talking, he looks at a specific place in the room, asks questions and gives answers. He is trying to prove something or convince a fictitious interlocutor of something.

The patient may be fighting off an attack by an imaginary enemy or trying to drive away a pack of non-existent dogs. He actually sees the bite site and the blood emerging from the wound. The patient can ask relatives to bandage his leg, which does not have a wound.

He may bend over to try to dodge an invisible object or swat away imaginary insects. A non-existent ray of light may hurt his eyes.

If there are auditory hallucinations, the patient suddenly falls silent, trying to listen to something. He may cover his ears from a sharp sound or a piercing scream that does not exist in reality.

The appearance of delirium is evidenced by words about the special mission of the patient, about his value to the world (the state or intelligence services). He may be talking about his greatness and heroism, or about his fatal mistake that caused the world to suffer.

The patient often expresses himself in hints and mysterious ambiguous phrases. His life can be filled with rituals, fictitious phone calls, records of incomprehensible content, ciphers, codes and passwords.
Delirium can be expressed in endless complaints about neighbors and co-workers. The patient can endlessly write to various institutions, sue and argue over unimportant reasons.

Rules of conduct

There are rules for dealing with a person suffering from psychosis:

There is no need to try to clarify the details of delusional statements. There is no need to ask the patient again, show interest in his obsession and encourage him to further plunge into a delusional state.
You should not argue with the patient and try to convince him. Attempts to prove the inconsistency of his ideas are futile. They can aggravate the patient's pathological condition. He will try with all his might to prove the opposite. At the same time, his psyche will suffer even more.
If the patient behaves calmly, it is recommended to listen to him. At the same time, one must demonstrate calmness and detachment. When he speaks out, you need to gently suggest that he consult a doctor.
There is no need to insist on visiting a doctor. You must act as delicately as possible. If the patient cannot be persuaded, the doctor should be invited home.

Signs of suicidal ideation:

Statements about guilt and uselessness should be alarming: that his birth was a mistake and that “there is no place for such people in this world.”
The patient’s lack of plans for the future is also a negative symptom. If the patient does not expect anything good from tomorrow or is afraid that the future will only bring him new misfortunes.
A person who considers himself terminally ill needs immediate help. Especially if he suspects he has cancer, which will soon cause severe pain.
An alarm should be caused by a sharp change in the patient’s mood from tearful and depressed to calm and detached. This behavior is often mistaken for improvement.
When the patient tries to meet with childhood friends, classmates or distant relatives. If he is trying to repay his debts faster, give back the borrowed item. When he suddenly writes a will or distributes to whom he will leave what.

Treatment

How to treat the disorder? Relatives and relatives must take the patient to the doctor if the first signs of psychosis appear. The doctor will decide on the severity of the disease and the need for hospitalization. Suicidal feelings must be taken very seriously. You need to hide sharp objects from the patient and close the balcony doors.

If acute psychosis occurs with pronounced symptoms, hospitalization of the patient is necessary. A distorted perception of the world can cause the patient to harm himself or his loved ones. He may become aggressive, attack family members, or try to kill himself. His psyche is damaged, so he cannot be responsible for his actions. In such cases, hospitalization is carried out by the decision of relatives without the consent of the patient.

Psychosis is treated primarily with medications.

Antipsychotics (neuroleptics) are the basic drugs for the treatment of psychosis.

New generation neuroleptics (Azaleptin, Seroquel, Rispolept) give good results. Tablets are prescribed after an attack of acute psychosis for 2 years for preventive purposes. Unfortunately, drug treatment is not always effective, since unmotivated patients do not follow the doctor’s instructions (they hide the pills or spit them out after taking them).

Psychotherapy sessions are conducted simultaneously with drug therapy. The patient is motivated to undergo treatment, his self-esteem is increased and he is taught to solve his problems on his own. He is taught the rules of behavior in society and in the family.

Timely treatment of psychosis can quickly and permanently return the patient to normal life. There are single-episode forms of psychosis, when patients recover from a painful state and never again suffer from psychotic disorders.

Treatment of mild to moderate disease lasts 1-2 months. More complex and prolonged psychoses may require treatment for up to a year. If treatment is carried out at home, you must strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. If the patient's condition worsens, the doctor should be reported immediately.