Psychotic Disorders

Summary

Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions. People with psychoses lose touch with reality. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are false beliefs, such as thinking that someone is plotting against you or that the TV is sending you secret messages. Hallucinations are false perceptions, such as hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not there.

Schizophrenia is one type of psychotic disorder. People with bipolar disorder may also have psychotic symptoms. Other problems that can cause psychosis include alcohol and some drugs, brain tumors, brain infections, and stroke.

Treatment depends on the cause of the psychosis. It might involve drugs to control symptoms and talk therapy. Hospitalization is an option for serious cases where a person might be dangerous to himself or others.

National Institute of Mental Health

Find an Expert

• American Psychiatric Association American Psychiatric Association
• FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• NAMI NAMI
• National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health

Treatments and Therapies

• Brain Stimulation Therapies National Institute of Mental Health
• Mental Health Medications National Institute of Mental Health
• Psychotherapies National Institute of Mental Health
• What Is Psychiatry? American Psychiatric Association

Patient Handouts

• Brief psychotic disorder Medical Encyclopedia
• Hallucinations Medical Encyclopedia
• Major depression with psychotic features Medical Encyclopedia
• Mental status testing Medical Encyclopedia
• Psychosis Medical Encyclopedia
• Schizoaffective disorder Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Psychotic Disorders National Institutes of Health

Encyclopedia

• Electroconvulsive therapy Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Hearing Voices and Seeing Things American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Diagnosis and Tests

• Mental Health Screening National Library of Medicine

Related Issues

• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Specifics

• Postpartum Psychosis Postpartum Support International
• Schizoaffective Disorder Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Schizophrenia: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Start Here

• Psychosis NAMI
• Understanding Psychosis National Institute of Mental Health

Journal Articles

• Psychotic Disorders

Genetics

• Schizoaffective disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine