Do you know what psychosis is? And what are the symptoms and causes? And how can it be dealt with? Here is the complete guide. Psychosis, or the so-called schizophrenia, is one of the mental illnesses about which awareness must be raised. Here are the full details about this disease through the following article: What is psychosis? Psychosis is a mental disorder that usually:

It affects people between the ages of 16-30 years more than other age groups.

Symptoms appear in male patients with the disease at an earlier age than female patients.

The disease develops gradually and slowly, except in rare cases.

Psychosis spreads among approximately 1% of people around the world, and patients usually show symptoms, such as: confusion, confusion, hallucinations, and other things that we will review in the next sections.

Symptoms of psychosis

While symptoms may appear clear in some patients, this is not the case for all patients with psychosis. Some may feel that there is nothing wrong with them until they start trying to explain their thoughts to others, and here the imbalance appears.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but they are generally classified into 4 groups, namely:

Positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and imagining things that are not real.

Negative symptoms, which are the symptoms that appear as a result of the patient''s loss of normal psychological matters, such as: absence of facial expressions, and lack of stimulation.

Cognitive symptoms These symptoms affect the way a person thinks, deals with and expresses his thoughts, such as: Loss of focus.

Emotional symptoms, which are often negative, such as: not feeling any feelings or emotions.

These are the most important symptoms that can be distinguished and observed in the patient:

Delusion, where the patient suddenly begins to think about false beliefs, and he may feel that someone wants to impose his control over him, or he may believe that he has miraculous powers.

Hallucinations, such as: hearing non-existent voices, which is the most common symptom in this case, and there are those who can smell, touch, or taste non-existent things as well.

Problems connecting ideas, where the patient starts jumping between one idea and another without any link or logical reason.

Other symptoms, such as: lack of motivation, inability to express feelings, social withdrawal, and the person not realizing that he is sick.

The symptoms of psychosis in adolescents are similar to the symptoms of psychosis in adults, but diagnosing it is more difficult because of the nature of adolescent behavior and the natural changes that their bodies and thinking go through.

The causes of psychosis

There is no clear and known cause so far for psychosis, but scientists believe that the disease may arise as a result of the presence of many factors, the most important of which are:

environmental factors

Researchers believe that the exposure of the fetus to some kind of trauma while in the mother''s womb or infection with a certain infection may contribute to the emergence of the disease.

Heredity and genes

The researchers point out in the studies that heredity plays a major role in developing psychosis, as the chances of developing psychosis increase in those who come from a family with cases of psychosis.

Hyperstimulation of the immune system

This is the result of many factors, such as: Infection with an autoimmune disease.

Relations and family

Although research did not definitively link the emergence of psychosis in patients with a defect in their relationships, it was found that the defect in family relationships may stimulate the emergence of the disease.

other reasons

Such as: an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, and drug abuse of all kinds.

How to diagnose psychosis

For a definitive diagnosis of psychosis, the following criteria must be met

Excluding the patient from other medical conditions, such as: bipolar.

Ensure that any symptoms appearing on the patient were not caused by a specific drug that the patient took.

The appearance of at least two of the following symptoms on the patient: delusion, chaotic behavior, hallucinations, incoherent speech, and negative symptoms that lasted for a period of at least 4 weeks.

Symptoms appear continuously for a period of at least 6 months.

Psychosis treatment

If the patient gets the appropriate treatment, he can live his life normally, but this does not mean the patient is completely cured, but rather it means controlling the symptoms, as this disease often has no final cure.

The treatment method is usually a combination of medication, psychotherapy sessions and psychological counseling in different ways.

It is worth noting that the patient must continue taking the medication for the rest of his life, even if the symptoms disappear, so that these do not return again.

The role of the family and loved ones should not be neglected in providing the patient with the necessary support and helping him to control the disease effectively.

Complications of psychosis

If the patient does not get appropriate and timely treatment for psychosis, this may cause some complications and health risks, such as:

The desire to commit suicide.

Intentionally injuring the body by the patient.

Constant anxiety and depression.

social isolation

Inability to complete academic and job tasks.

Start taking drugs.

Agressive behaviour.