When a person experiences hallucinations or delusions, this is considered psychosis. Hallucinations and delusions are misperceptions of reality.
Hallucinations can be visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile, though most people associate hallucinations with visual hallucinations. In addition to seeing things that are not present, hallucinations can involve hearing things, smelling things, and feeling things that are not truly there.
Delusions are thoughts that are not based in reality. The difference between a mere unrealistic thought and a delusion is the degree to which the thought is unconnected to reality. For example, someone may think they want to become a professional football player though they have not played well in high school. Though it may not be realistic, it is probably not a delusion by psychiatric standards. A delusion is more extreme. The person may think they have been chosen by God, are being stalked by the FBI, or have superpowers.
Schizophrenia is the mental illness with which psychotic symptoms are most often associated. However, bipolar disorder and depression can cause hallucinations.
There are different types of schizophrenia, largely categorized based on the types of psychotic symptoms the person experiences. For example, paranoid schizophrenia often causes delusions of being watched or monitored. Some psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia can seem random.
Psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression are related to the mood disturbance. Psychotic symptoms of depression or depressive episodes can be much more severe than suicidal thoughts.
An example of a hallucination due to a depressive episode is hearing voices telling the person to commit suicide. Depression can cause delusions that the earth is a hellish place from which they must save their loved ones by killing them.
Mania causes hallucinations and delusions related to euphoria and grandiosity. The person may have a delusion that they have superpowers or have been chosen by God or another supernatural being.
Psychotic features of bipolar disorder are not common. Most people with bipolar disorder or depression will never experience psychotic symptoms. Some people may only experience psychotic symptoms when the mood disturbance is left untreated and becomes more severe than usual.
Medication to treat psychosis, commonly referred to as anti-psychotic drugs, may be used to treat psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder. Injections of an anti-psychotic medication like Haldol may be necessary if the person is resistent to taking their medication regularly.
The psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder typically subside once the bipolar disorder or depression is stabilized. It may be hard for people to understand that the hallucinations and delusions are realistic to the person at the time they are experienced. If the person is having periods of psychosis and periods without psychosis, the person may develop anxiety and be fearful and frustrated about the psychotic symptoms.
Hallucinations can be visual, auditory, olfactory, or tactile, though most people associate hallucinations with visual hallucinations. In addition to seeing things that are not present, hallucinations can involve hearing things, smelling things, and feeling things that are not truly there.
Delusions are thoughts that are not based in reality. The difference between a mere unrealistic thought and a delusion is the degree to which the thought is unconnected to reality. For example, someone may think they want to become a professional football player though they have not played well in high school. Though it may not be realistic, it is probably not a delusion by psychiatric standards. A delusion is more extreme. The person may think they have been chosen by God, are being stalked by the FBI, or have superpowers.
Schizophrenia is the mental illness with which psychotic symptoms are most often associated. However, bipolar disorder and depression can cause hallucinations.
There are different types of schizophrenia, largely categorized based on the types of psychotic symptoms the person experiences. For example, paranoid schizophrenia often causes delusions of being watched or monitored. Some psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia can seem random.
Psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression are related to the mood disturbance. Psychotic symptoms of depression or depressive episodes can be much more severe than suicidal thoughts.
An example of a hallucination due to a depressive episode is hearing voices telling the person to commit suicide. Depression can cause delusions that the earth is a hellish place from which they must save their loved ones by killing them.
Mania causes hallucinations and delusions related to euphoria and grandiosity. The person may have a delusion that they have superpowers or have been chosen by God or another supernatural being.
Psychotic features of bipolar disorder are not common. Most people with bipolar disorder or depression will never experience psychotic symptoms. Some people may only experience psychotic symptoms when the mood disturbance is left untreated and becomes more severe than usual.
Medication to treat psychosis, commonly referred to as anti-psychotic drugs, may be used to treat psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder. Injections of an anti-psychotic medication like Haldol may be necessary if the person is resistent to taking their medication regularly.
The psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder typically subside once the bipolar disorder or depression is stabilized. It may be hard for people to understand that the hallucinations and delusions are realistic to the person at the time they are experienced. If the person is having periods of psychosis and periods without psychosis, the person may develop anxiety and be fearful and frustrated about the psychotic symptoms.
About the Author:
Sheila Wilson explains what are the common manic depression signs and symptoms and how to spot bipolar disorder in children in the early days. For details please visit her website to read on further.
