Psychosis Flashcards
what is psychosis
umbrella diagnosis characterised by lack of insight and difficulty with what is real and what is not
what areas of the mental state examination are particularly affected in psychosis
mood
thoughts
behaviours
perceptions
list the main causes of psychosis and examples of each
drugs - ingestion such as legal highs or withdrawal from benzodiazepines
psychiatric disease - schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, mania
organic - delirium, depression, SLE, huntingtons disease
list the main symptoms that are associated with psychosis
hallucinations delusions thought disorder loss of insight self-referential experiences ideas of reference
what part of the mental state examination do hallucinations come under
perception
what is a hallucination
a perception that occurs in the absence of a stimulus but have the qualities of a normal perception eg are vivid and compelling
what is the difference between simple and complex hallucinations
simple - murmur, flash of light, unspecific
complex - a voice or person or music
describe ideas of reference
innocuous or coincidental events that will be ascribed significant meaning by the person
list some examples of ideas of reference
thinking a message in newspaper is about them
the news is commenting on their life
describe self-referential experiences
the belief that external events are related to onself in some way
list some examples of self-referential experiences
feeling that others are out to get them/laughing at them
the belief that they are the second coming of christ
what are delusions
a fixed falsely held belief that is outwith the patients own socio-cultural beliefs
held with unshakeable conviction
what area of the mental state examination do delusions come under
disorder of thought
what is the difference between primary and secondary delusions
primary - arrive fully in consciousness with no need for explanation
secondary - require attempts to explain how the delusions arrive eg through hallucinations or passivity phenomena
describe thought insertion
the belief that other people are putting thoughts into the persons head
describe thought withdrawal
the belief that thoughts are being taken out of the patients head
describe thought broadcasting
the belief that others can hear their thoughts without having to say them
what are the other disorders of thought seen in someone with psychosis
clanning and punning loosening of associations knights move thinking neologisms circumferentiality/tangentiality
describe passivity phenomena
the belief that one is no longer in control of their thoughts and feelings - an external agent is controlling them
what are the content of delusions commonly seen in depressive psychosis
worthlessness guilt poverty sin nihilism
what hallucinations are commonly seen in someone with depressive psychosis
second person auditory with accusatory tone
what is Cottard syndrome
part of depressive psychosis where the patient feels they have already died
what are the content of delusions commonly seen in someone with mania and psychosis
grandiosity
special ability
religiosity
what hallucinations are commonly seen in someone with mania and psychosis
second person auditory hearing Gods voice telling them they are great
