Psychosis Flashcards
what is psychosis generally defined as?
a group of mental illnesses that feature the loss of touch with reality
What is the average age of onset of psychosis?
15 - 30
What are the psychological causes of psychosis?
- substance use
- Schizophrenia
- delusional disorder
- mood disorders
- delirium
- dementia
What are the gen medical causes of psychosis?
- Parkinson’s
- syphilis
- HIV/AIDS
- malaria
- hypoglycaemia
- SLE
- Alzeihmer’s
- brain tumours
- electrolyte imbalances
What substance use can cause psychosis?
- side effects of medications like anti-epileptics, antidepressants, levadopa
- drug withdrawal
- alcohol
- cannabis
- cocaine
- amphetamines
- MDMA
- magic mushrooms
What are the clinical features of psychosis?
1) lack of insight / self awareness
2) hallucinations
3) thought disturbances
4) delusions
- Mood disturbances
- Disorganised though/ speech / behaviour
- Cognitive Deficit
- Catanoia (abnormal movement / behaviour)
What are hallucinations?
- false perception of something that is not there (no physical stimulus)
- can affect 5 senses however visual / auditory most common
what are hypnagogic / hypnopompic hallucinations?
1) Hypnagogic hallucinations occur in the transition from being awake to being asleep
2) Hypnopompic hallucinations occur when waking up from sleep
What are delusions?
Delusion are an unshakable false belief not accepted by other members of the patients culture
e.g. patient may believe that neighbours are spies out to get them.
What anti-psychotics are typically given in the management of psychosis?
- typical Chlorpromazine
- Chlorpromazine
- atypical Clozapine
- Risperidone
