Download Psychotic Disorder

PSYCHOTIC DISORDER
Mental Health First Aid
By Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2010
Introduction
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Psychotic disorder are mental health problems that cause a person
to lose some touch with reality
They can cause severe disturbance in behavior, thinking and
emotions
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It can disrupt a person’s life, relationships, work and self care
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People experience psychotic episodes or psychosis
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It is less common mental health problem
Phases of psychotic disorder
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Premorbid phase: time before symptom starts
Prodrome phase: the symptoms are vague and hardly noticeable (may be
mistaken for typical teenage behavior)
Acute phase: psychotic symptoms are experienced (hallucinations, delusions,
disorganized thinking and behavior)
Recovery phase: with treatment, most people recover from mental illness. Some
may have one episode and never experience again in life
Symptoms
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Change in emotion and motivation
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Change in thinking and perception
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Change in behavior
In emotion and motivation
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Depression
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Mood swings
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Increased anxiety
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Suspiciousness, a constant feeling of being watched
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Blunted or inappropriate emotions
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Irrational, angry or fearful response to friends and family
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Change in appetite
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Reduced energy and motivation
In thinking and perception
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Difficulties with concentration
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Sense of alteration of self, others or the outside world
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Inability to turn out their imagination, odd ideas
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Unusual perceptional experiences
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Inappropriate use of language – words which do not make sense to
others
Difficulty controlling thoughts
In behavior
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Sleep disturbance
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Loss of appetite
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Withdrawal from activities and social contact
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Deterioration in studies and work
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Deterioration on personal hygiene
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Physical symptoms ( weakness, pains, bizarre body senses )
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Sudden excesses
Early Intervention
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Research shows that on average, people experiencing their first episode went
untreated for almost three years
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Begins in late adolescence or early adulthood
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Symptoms are common to the age
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Many young people will have same symptoms but may not develop psychosis
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Factors influencing why psychosis remains untreated for long,
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Social withdrawal
Poor social network
Stigma
Skill and knowledge of caregivers
Early Intervention (Contd …)
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The longer the psychosis goes untreated , the poorer the outcome is
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The person’s responsiveness, tends to decline with each successive episode
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Treatment involves medication and other treatment
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Other treatment include:
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Family intervention
Cognitive behavior therapy
Group or individual psychotherapy
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Any behavior, mood and thinking change should be taken seriously
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Signs and symptoms vary from person to person and severity could fluctuate
Types of psychotic disorders
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Schizophrenia
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Schizoaffective disorder
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Psychotic depression
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Substance – induced psychotic disorder
Schizophrenia
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Complex mental health problem
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Affects the brain and has specific symptoms
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Altered levels of neurotransmitters (eg dopamine and serotonin)
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Schizophrenia = Schizo (split) + phrenia (mind)
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A mind split from reality
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Thoughts and perceptions become disordered
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People can be effectively treated and are capable of living full and happy
lives
Schizophrenia (Contd …)
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About 1% of people develop schizophrenia in their lifetime
About 0.5 % to 1.5 % of the world population is reported to be with
schizophrenia
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Male are more affected than females
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Occurs between late teens to mid 30s
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For males – 18 – 25 years & Females – 25 years to 30 years
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Symptoms vary from person to person
Symptoms of schizophrenia
Positive symptoms
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Positive do not mean good symptoms, it means thoughts or behavior that
have been added
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Hallucinations
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Delusions
Negative symptoms
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Changes that diminish functioning
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Loss of drive
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Blunted emotions
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Social withdrawal
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Cognitive impairment
Other psychotic disorders
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Schizoaffective disorder
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More than one mental health problem
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Both schizophrenia and mood disorder
Psychotic Depression
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The person having depression may have delusions involving guilt, severe physical illness,
persecution and hopelessness
Substance Induced psychotic disorders
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Hallucinations and delusion due to substance use
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Symptoms appear immediately and last until the effect of drugs
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Drugs may be the sole cause of psychosis or sometimes may induce other mental health
problems
Risk Factors
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Genetic Factors
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Biochemical Factors
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Stress
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Other factors
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Head Injury
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Complications during pregnancy
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Problems of brain development during adolescence
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Vitamin deficiency during pregnancy
Psychosis and substance use
Alcohol
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May cause alcohol induced psychosis
Alcohol interferes with antipsychotic medicines and hence has several side effects
Cannabis
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Cannabis contributes of development of schizophrenia in case of people who are a higher
risk
Cannabis affects dopamine system
Affects short term memory, clouds clear thinking
Hallucinogens
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Extremely hazardous for people at risk
Stimulants
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People must avoid stimulants such as cocaine and caffeine
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