Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and delusional and paranoid disorders, can cause delusional beliefs, hallucinations, irrational thoughts and actions, paranoia, and violent behavior. They can be triggered by drug use, brain tumors, head injuries, or traumatic events. Treatment varies depending on the extent of the psychosis.
Psychotic disorders that afflict a person’s mind can disrupt logical thinking and alter perceptions of reality. Delusional beliefs, hallucinations, irrational thoughts and actions, paranoia, and violent behavior often occur when this type of mental condition exists. The most common variants of psychotic disorders include schizophrenia and delusional and paranoid disorders. When the elderly are afflicted, the condition can be known as paraphrenia.
The most common traits of psychotic disorders include paranoid and delusional thinking. An individual may isolate himself because he believes that others are conspiring to harm him. He may verbally lash out at friends and loved ones or even become physically abusive. In the mind of a psychologically disturbed person, he is protecting himself from people conspiring against him. In reality, of course, that’s simply not the case.
Auditory and visual hallucinations are also common in people suffering from psychotic disorders. For example, schizophrenics may hear voices that belong to people who are no longer living or have conversations with people who don’t exist in the real world. Voices can tell them to do strange or violent things. People with this disorder may feel compelled to obey the commands of their hallucinations, putting themselves and others in serious danger.
The onset of psychotic disorders can have several root causes. Sometimes, outside influences are a big factor. Prescription or recreational drug use, for example, can precipitate the condition. A brain tumor or head injury can also trigger abnormal thinking and irrational behavior in some patients. In some cases, psychosis is cured when the source of the disorder, such as a tumor, is removed.
Sometimes, psychotic disorders develop in people who have experienced a series of extraordinary traumatic events or abuse. In these individuals, their brains virtually create an alternate reality. The brain does this as a coping mechanism when reality is too painful and unbearable. When psychosis occurs for these reasons, it typically presents during adolescence or early adulthood.
In later years, older adults with no previous signs of mental illness may suddenly show signs of psychotic disorders, such as paraphrenia. They may become paranoid, believing that others are out to cause them physical harm or steal their belongings. Even for them the speech often becomes difficult. They may use nonsense words to express themselves, only to get frustrated when no one understands them. As a result, they begin to withdraw from friends and loved ones.
Depending on the extent of the psychosis, treatment plans can vary. Some patients require constant monitoring for their own well-being and the safety of others. In these cases, an inpatient mental health facility is often the best option. Others can be treated with medication and outpatient psychotherapy. A psychiatrist often makes recommendations based on the patient’s diagnosis and extent of mental illness.
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