Psychosis is characterized by disruptions to a person’s thoughts and perceptions which makes it difficult for them to recognize reality. Psychosis symptoms include hallucinations (perceiving things that are not there, such as hearing voices or seeing things that don’t exist), delusions (holding false beliefs that are not based in reality and are not swayed by reason), and disordered thinking (thinking or speech which is chaotic and disjointed). Psychotic symptoms are often not permanent and occur in episodes. The symptoms may or may not be distressing to the individual. Psychosis can have a variety of causes, such as underlying genetic factors, toxin exposure, substance use, and trauma.
Related symptoms and diagnoses
Treatments Offered
Additional resources
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosis
- https://www.mcleanhospital.org/treatment/mclean-ontrack
- https://www.mcleanhospital.org/treatment/star
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443
- https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/psychosis/