A psychotic break is a sudden and severe mental health crisis during which a person experiences a loss of contact with reality, often including delusions and hallucinations. It is also known as a mental health crisis, psychotic episode, or acute psychosis. The symptoms can vary in severity, but may include extreme changes in behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
Signs and Symptoms of a Psychotic Break
During a psychotic break, a person may experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include:
• Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not real
• Delusions: Having false beliefs, such as believing that the government is out to get them
• Paranoia: Feeling overly suspicious or fearful of other people
• Disorganized thoughts: Difficulty focusing on and following conversations
• Disorganized speech: Making comments that don’t make sense or jumping from one topic to another
• Changes in behavior: Becoming unusually agitated or withdrawn
• Difficulty with daily activities: Having trouble completing everyday tasks
Causes of Psychotic Breaks
A psychotic break can be caused by a variety of factors, including mental illness, substance abuse, and physical illness. Mental illness is the most common cause of a psychotic break. The most common mental illnesses associated with psychotic breaks are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.
Substance abuse can also lead to a psychotic break, particularly when the substance in question is a hallucinogen or stimulant. These types of drugs can cause a person to have hallucinations or delusions, which can lead to a psychotic break.
Physical illness can also trigger a psychotic break. This is especially true in cases of brain injury or infections, such as meningitis. In some cases, the physical illness can cause changes in the brain that can lead to a psychotic break.
Treatment of Psychotic Breaks
Treatment for a psychotic break typically involves both medication and psychotherapy. Medication is used to help reduce the symptoms of the psychotic break and to prevent future episodes. Common medications prescribed for psychotic breaks include antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers.
Psychotherapy can also be used to help a person manage their symptoms and to help them develop coping skills. Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are two of the most common types of psychotherapy used to treat psychotic breaks.
In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary to help manage the symptoms of a psychotic break. Hospitalization can provide a safe and secure environment in which a person can rest and receive treatment.