Psychosis Flashcards
what is the definition of psychosis?
mental disorder in which the thoughts, affective response or ability to communicate and relate to others, are sufficiently impaired to interfere grossly with the capacity to deal with reality
what are the classic characteristics of psychosis?
hallucinations
delusions
disorder of form of thought
what organic conditions can cause psychosis?
delirium
dementias
brain injury
stroke
which substance use can cause psychosis?
alcohol intoxication
withdrawal
delirium tremens
name 2 causes of manic depressive psychosis?
unipolar depression
bipolar disorder
what causes dementia praecox?
schizophrenia and other paranoid illnesses
give examples of psychotic experiences?
hallucinations ideas of reference delusions formal thought disorder thought interference passivity phenomena loss of insight
what causes a hallucination?
aberrent brain processing
what is the definition of a hallucination?
a perception which occurs in the absence of an external stimulus (is experienced as originating in real space)
can a hallucination occur in any sensory modality?
yes: visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile and hepatic
when is a hallucination significant?
only in context of other relevant symptoms
what are ideas of reference?
innocuous or coincidental events will be ascribed significant meaning by person eg thinking there are really messages in newspaper about them
what are self referential experiences?
belief that external events are related to oneself eg the feeling that others are speaking about me / laughing at me
what is a delusion?
fixed, falsely held belief held with unshakeable conviction which is impervious to logical argument or evidence to contrary
what is a secondary delusion?
often attempts to explain anomalous experiences
how do you infer a thought disorder?
but be inferred from patterns of speech, cannot be directly observed
what are characteristics of a thought disorder?
neologisms circumstantiality / tangentiality clanging and punning loosening of associations knights move thinking verbigeration / word salad
what is thought insertion?
these thoughts are being put into my head that don’t belong to me - i haven’t thought them
what is thought withdrawal?
they can extract the information from me using the internet, they take my thoughts out of my head
what is thought broadcasting?
its like everyone can know what i am thinking - my sky dish is beaming what i am thinking to the neighbours, they all know
what is thought blocking?
its like i get halfway though thinking something and the thoughts just dry up and i cant think anything for a while
what is passivity of volition?
made action
what is passivity of affect?
made feelings
what is passivity of impulse?
made urges
what is passivity of somatic passivity?
influence on the body
what is loss of insight?
to you everything seems as real as it always did, things make sense and you know what is going on
but everyone else is telling you you are unwell
what do 3rd person auditory hallucinations suggest?
schizophrenia
what is depressive psychosis and what are symptoms of this?
typified by mood congruent content of psychotic symptoms
delusions of worthlessness / guilt / hypochondriasis / poverty
hallucinations of accusing / insulting / threatening voices - typically 2nd person
what is mania with psychosis and what are symptoms of this?
typified by mood congruent content of psychotic symptoms
delusions of grandeur / special ability / persecution / religiosity
hallucinations: auditory (eg gods voice)
flight of ideas
what is delirium?
acute, transient disturbance caused by many conditions
what are symptoms of delirium?
clouding of consciousness (fluctuates) impaired concentration / memory visual +/- auditory hallucinations persecutory delusions psychomotor disturbance (agitation or retardation) irritability insomnia
