psychosis

Psychosis

(pronounced sigh-koh-sis) (adjective form is psychotic, sigh-kot-ic) --Psychosis is a mental state that sometimes occurs in bipolar disorder (as well as in schizophrenia). In general terms, psychosis is a severe disconnection from reality. Hallucinations and delusions are hallmark symptoms of psychosis. (See prior Brainstorm Spotlights for definitions of those terms.) People who are experiencing psychosis typically are unable to distinguish reality from “unreality”; they typically can not tell that their hallucinations and/or delusions are not real. Note that some people are able to recognize that the hallucinations or delusions are not real, but they still have a strong emotional reaction to them. Paranoia or grandiosity, sometimes both, can be noticed.

They have impaired thought process, with thoughts jumping from one incomplete idea to the next (somewhat different than the racing thoughts of mania). Their speech follows their disconnected/disjointed thought process and can be nonsensical at times. If their attention is taken up by the hallucinations or delusions, they may not process much of what you say to them either. This makes communication difficult and awkward with someone with psychosis. Psychosis causes a lack of insight, typically thinking that other people are causing their perceived problems and not recognizing that they have an illness which is fueling the issues going on. Psychosis can also involve an inability to care for self (in someone who is typically able to do so when not exhibiting psychosis).

THE FINE PRINT

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