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Psychosis Introduction: For this assignment I have chosen the term "psychosis." The term psychosis will be defined using a parenthetical definition, a sentence definition, and an expanded definition. This assignment will provide a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the term psychosis for people who are unfamiliar with this word. Parenthetical Definition: A severe mental illness which involves a loss of contact with reality (not having any relevant perception of reality in at least one major area in life). Sentence Definition: Psychosis is a severe form of mental disorder characterized by a loss of contact with reality involving symptoms such as delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (sensory experiences that do not exist), and disorganized speech and behaviour. Expanded Definition: What is psychosis? Psychosis refers to when an individual will lose touch with reality and see, hear, or believe things that aren’t real. One may have delusions. That means they would hold onto untrue or strange beliefs. Hallucinations may also be present. That’s when one imagine, hears or sees something that doesn’t exist. Psychosis usually appears in a person’s late teens or early twenties. Approximately three out of every 100 people will experience a psychotic episode in their lifetimes. It occurs in men and women and across all cultures and socioeconomic groups. What are the symptoms of psychosis? Psychosis can occur over time gradually or can have a sudden onset. There are usually early warning signs that may be apparent such as anxiousness, irritability, depression, or social withdrawal. Memory and concentration may be affected as well as appetite and levels of energy. Some other symptoms include: - Changes in thinking patterns Unusual or false beliefs - Changes in perception Changes in feeling and mood Changes in behavior What causes psychosis? It can be difficult to know what has caused the first episode of psychosis. However, research has determined that it can include a combination of biological and genetic factors. This means that a person acquiring certain genetic or biological makeup can be more at risk or more vulnerable to developing psychosis than others. Chemicals in the brain including dopamine (regulates movement and emotion) and serotonin (involved in sleep, depression and memory) also contribute to the development of psychosis. FIGURE 1 CT scan of normal brain and brain affected by schizophrenia Source: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/ss/slideshow-schizophrenia-overview What are the types of Psychosis? 1) Schizophrenia A person experiences some psychotic symptoms for at least six months, with a significant decline in the person’s ability to function. The symptoms and length of the illness vary from person to person. 2) Schizophreniform disorder The same as schizophrenia except that the symptoms have lasted for less than six months. The illness may completely resolve or may persist and progress to other psychiatric diagnoses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder. 3) Bipolar illness Symptoms relate more to mood disturbance than to thought disturbance. A person will experience mania and sometimes depression. When psychotic symptoms arise, they often reflect the person’s mood. 4) Schizoaffective disorder During this type of psychosis, a person will experience symptoms of schizophrenia and symptoms of a mood disturbance, either at the same time or alternating over time. 5) Depression with psychotic features Sometimes a person will experience a severe depression with symptoms of psychosis without the mania (excessive excitement or enthusiasm) associated with bipolar disorder. 6) Drug-induced psychosis The use of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD, amphetamines and alcohol can sometimes cause psychotic symptoms to appear. 7) Organic psychosis Symptoms of psychosis may appear as a result of a physical illness or a head injury. 8) Brief psychotic disorder Sometimes symptoms of psychosis come on suddenly and, in some cases, are triggered in response to a major stress in the person’s life. This type of psychosis usually lasts less than a month. 9) Delusional disorder This type of psychosis consists of very strong and fixed beliefs in things that are not true. Changes in perception, such as hallucinations, are not seen in this illness. A delusional disorder does not usually affect a person’s ability to function. FIGURE 2 Overlap of symptoms regarding various psychosis’ Source: http://hubpages.com/health/Age-in-Psychosis What are the treatments for psychosis? It is important to get help and treatment as early as possible with someone who is experiencing psychosis, as research shows that recovery can be faster. Before a treatment, an assessment is recommended. A mental health professional will interview the patient and get insight into the experiences of the person going through a psychotic episode. Family and friends may be interviewed to receive background information that may aid in the understanding of the patients behaviours. Once the information is gathered, treatment usually consists of medication and interventions. Some of these interventions include various forms of therapy involving the individual and their family. Works Cited: "Psychosis." CAMH: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. CAMH, 1 Dec. 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/health_information/a_z_mental_health_and_addiction_informa tion/psychosis/Pages/Psychosis.aspx>. J. Goldberg. "Psychosis: What It Is, What Causes It, and What Treatments Can Help." WebMD. WebMD, 19 Dec. 2015. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. <http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what-ispsychosis>. Schacter, Daniel L., Daniel Todd. Gilbert, and Daniel M. Wegner. Psychology. New York: Worth, 2009. Print.