Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders are a group of serious mental health conditions that affect how a person thinks, feels, and perceives reality. People with these disorders often experience a loss of contact with reality, which may include delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there).

1. Delusions
   • Strong beliefs that are not based in reality (e.g., believing someone is plotting against them).
2. Hallucinations
   • Sensory experiences without a real external stimulus (most commonly hearing voices).
3. Disorganized Thinking or Speech
   • Jumping from one topic to another, incoherent speech, or trouble organizing thoughts.
4. Abnormal Motor Behavior
   • This can include agitation, strange postures, or complete lack of movement (catatonia).
5. Negative Symptoms
   • These are deficits of normal emotional responses or thought processes, like lack of motivation, reduced speaking, or flat affect (reduced expression of emotions).

• Schizophrenia
  The most well-known psychotic disorder, typically involves chronic symptoms.
• Schizoaffective Disorder
  A mix of schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder symptoms (like depression or bipolar disorder).
• Brief Psychotic Disorder
  Sudden onset of psychotic symptoms that last less than a month, often in response to stress or trauma.
• Delusional Disorder
  Persistent delusions without other major signs of psychosis.
• Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder
  Psychosis caused by drug use, withdrawal, or exposure to toxins.
• Psychotic Disorder Due to a Medical Condition
  Psychotic symptoms that stem from another medical issue (e.g., brain injury, neurological conditions).

Causes & Risk Factors:

• Genetics (family history)
• Brain structure or chemistry imbalances
• Stress or trauma
• Substance abuse
• Certain medical conditions

• Antipsychotic medications
• Therapy (CBT, family therapy)
• Hospitalization (in severe cases)
• Supportive care and rehabilitation