Psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia, are a severe problem for many people throughout the world. These disorders are unlike other types of illnesses because they often have no physical symptoms that can be diagnosed by a regular doctor, and the condition must be diagnosed and treated by a properly trained psychiatrist. The largest problem with psychotic disorders is that they are serious conditions which have an impact on the ability of the affected individual to have normal thoughts and a normal perception of reality. Reality is something that people who suffer from psychotic disorders have difficulty with as their conditions can cause them to completely lose touch with reality.
The Symptoms of Psychotic Disorders
Although there may be several symptoms of psychotic disorders, there are two main symptoms that should be considered seriously as soon as they begin to show. Delusions and hallucinations are trademark symptoms of psychotic disorders and cause the individuals who have them to not understand the difference between reality and what they perceive to be reality.
Delusions occur when an individual has a false belief. False beliefs may be thought of as conspiracy theories in many cases, including a belief that someone is trying to plot your murder, or that the government has spies watching you wherever you are going. Another common delusion for those with schizophrenia is to believe that the television is sending secret messages to you over its rays and waves.
Hallucinations are just as powerful, and sometimes just as, if not more, dangerous than delusions. Hallucinations are characterized by belief in something that isn’t there. People who have a hallucination may see, hear, feel, or smell something that isn’t actually there, and this can create untold panic.
Is Schizophrenia the Only Psychotic Disorder?
Many different psychotic disorders have been classified by the DSM-IV manual for psychology. However, not only psychotic disorders can cause a serious break with reality. Bipolar disorder, infections in the brain, brain tumors, overconsumption of alcohol, having a stroke, and even some types of recreational drugs and pharmaceuticals are capable of causing a sufferer to have psychotic episodes.
The Treatments for Psychotic Disorders
Most psychotic disorders are relatively treatable given the right diagnosis and state of the illness. The cause of the psychosis is taken into account when determining the course of treatment for the patient. For patients whose psychosis has reached a maximum level or they have become dangerous to themselves or to other people, hospitalization for an extended period of time may be necessary to ensure the individual receives the care and attention they need to overcome their illness and get their life under control.
Other types of treatments include the use of pharmaceutical drugs which can help keep the delusions and hallucinations associated with psychotic disorders under check. Talk therapy is also used for many patients. This is especially critical in situations where the affected individual doesn’t understand how to emotionally deal with the things they have done, the thoughts they have had, and the experiences they have lived.
Please remember that we are just offering advice. You do need to make sure that you go and seek medical advice and consult a doctor, if you or someone you know displays the signs of a mental health disorder. It can be treated by a medical professional only.