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Understanding Psychosis
Psychotic Episodes
The public often uses the term “psychotic” to describe someone they consider to be “crazy” or mentally ill, but what does the word “psychotic” really mean? What does a “psychotic episode” really look like?
The National Institute of Mental Health defines psychosis as a state in which a person loses touch with reality. During a psychotic episode, an individual has difficulty distinguishing between reality and fantasy. They may have delusions (false beliefs) or auditory or visual hallucinations.
Psychosis can be caused by a complex combination of biological, environmental, and social factors. Illness and drugs or alcohol may also play a role in triggering the onset of psychotic episodes.
Characteristics of People in a Psychotic State
- Difficulty thinking and concentrating
- Trouble following conversations
- Jumbled and incomprehensible speech
- Confused thinking
- Thoughts seem to speed up or slow down
- Unable to express everyday thoughts in a clear way
Psychosis affects 3 out of 100 people, mostly in youth. Approximately 80 percent of psychotic people experience their first episode between the ages of…
