Psychotic disorders usually refer to several mental illnesses, like schizophrenia or a delusional disorder. In fact, delusions are one of the most common symptoms of a psychotic disorder, or psychosis. Hallucinations and disorganized thoughts may also be present during some psychotic disorders. The cause of these mental illnesses are often unknown, but genetics, stress, and chemical dependency may play a part. Treatment for a psychotic disorder often involves medication and therapy.
Delusions are one of the most common symptoms of a psychotic disorder. A delusion occurs when a person believes something that is either untrue or not proven. Paranoia is one of the best examples of a delusion. Individuals with paranoia often believe that they are being conspired against in some way.
Hallucinations also are symptoms of a psychotic disorder. A hallucination is a sensory perception without any type of outside stimulus. Hallucinations can be heard, seen, or felt.
Auditory hallucination are one of the most common types of hallucinations. Individuals dealing with these symptoms of a psychotic disorder will typically hear things that are not real. Hearing voices, for instance, is quite common with some patients. These voices may be rude or demanding. Some patients even claim that these voices will command them to perform certain unpleasant tasks.
Visual hallucinations occur when a person sees something that is not there. Tactile hallucinations, on the other hand, refer to hallucinations that can be felt. One of the best examples of a tactile hallucination is the feeling of bugs crawling on one's skin. This is common with a psychosis brought on by substance abuse.
Disorganized thinking is another of the common symptoms of a psychotic disorder. This is often characterized by unusual or confusing thoughts. If these thoughts begin to manifest themselves through a patient's speech or writing, it is often known as a thought disorder. Completely incoherent or garbled speech is sometimes known colloquially as word salad.
The causes of psychotic disorders are not yet completely understood. Some of these disorders, like schizophrenia, may be the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Many medical experts now believe that some psychotic disorders are inherited. A psychotic disorder may also be brought on by extreme stress or a chemical dependency.
Treating a psychotic disorder often requires medications, like antipsychotics. Hospitalization may also be required for severe cases. Many patients will also benefit from certain types of therapy.
