Why does psychosis occur? Psychosis

Many types of psychoses change the patient's perception of reality, which can be frightening for loved ones. After all, a hallucinating person becomes unpredictable, and can harm himself or others. Consider what are psychoses and their types, what are the symptoms of the disease and methods of their treatment.

What is psychosis

Psychosis is defined as a mental disorder (), confusion and protest of the unconscious part of the personality against society. According to Jung, all symptoms of psychosis should be considered in terms of symbolism. Various manifestations of psychosis can be encrypted messages of the patient, and thus, he indicates the problem that torments him. Perhaps if you decipher these "messages", you can find the source of the disorder.

The consciousness of a patient with psychosis is almost entirely filled with unconscious content, and the person lives more by instincts. Depending on the severity and type of the disease, psychoses are protracted and deep, or appear from time to time, as a temporary clouding of the mind.

What are psychoses

Psychoses and their types are divided into categories, depending on their etiology. Some of the psychoses are temporary, and are quite easy to treat without leaving behind meaningful consequences. These psychoses are referred to as situational psychosis. It occurs suddenly, has an acute form, but with timely help quickly passes.

Somatogenic psychosis - occurs as side disease somatic illness.
Reactive psychosis - characterized by a sudden onset, and, as a rule, this is the body's reaction to stress.

Alcoholic psychosis

Alcoholic psychosis is ICD code 10, and it is more correct to call it metal-alcoholic psychosis, since this disease is divided into many subspecies. Alcoholic psychosis is characterized by the fact that it does not occur directly due to the effects of alcohol on the brain, but already against the background of a withdrawal syndrome.

The most common among alcoholic psychoses is delirium, delusional psychosis, hallucinosis, acquired encephalopathy and pathological intoxication.

Acute alcoholic psychosis is not intoxication, but a consequence of prolonged intoxication of the body with alcoholic beverages, and often it occurs a few days after the last use of alcohol.

Signs of alcoholic psychosis in men can be confused with intoxication, a cold, or attributed to the nature of the patient. The patient has a fever, insomnia and irritability. Tremor of limbs and excessive sweating. Further, depending on the characteristics of the patient, may develop the following types psychosis:

The most common alcoholic psychosis is Delirium (delirious tremens). The patient loses the sense of time and space, and this loss is accompanied by delusions and hallucinations. Often the patient becomes aggressive because of the visions he sees. Basically, in delirium tremens, hallucinations take the form of the most terrible nightmares and horrors. The patient sees devils, demons, and even the faces of people close to him are distorted, taking frightening forms. The patient is completely disoriented, and without medical assistance these changes may become irreversible.

Hallucinosis

With this psychosis, the patient retains common sense both the intellect and the resulting auditory and visual hallucinations confuse him. He realizes that these are just hallucinations, and this drives him into depression. Over time, against the background of hallucinations, persecution mania and obsessive delusions may develop. The patient most often lies down and often talks to himself.

Pseudoparalysis

There is pain in the joints and muscles. It is difficult for the patient to breathe, speak, swallow, and there is a feeling of apathy towards everything. Over time, the patient turns into a "vegetable" and simply lies motionless on the bed.

Alcoholic encephalopathy

Due to acute alcohol intoxication brain functions are impaired. Acute manifestations with this type of disorder there is no, but there is headache, absent-mindedness, impaired memory and sleep. The patient is lethargic, depressed and gradually becomes indifferent to everything. Encephalopathy usually appears after Delirium.

Alcoholic paranoid

AT acute form the patient may become suspicious and aggressive. He can attack others or run away. AT evening time all the fears of the patient are exacerbated, and this condition may last for several days. In a chronic or protracted form, usually men have a persistent suspicion of loved ones. Often the wives of the sick suffer from this, as they become victims of unfounded suspicions of infidelity. The patient follows his wife, makes scandals, and at the same time, he can be jealous, both of a real person and a fictional character.

Alcoholic psychosis: clinic and treatment

All alcoholic psychoses are the result of prolonged exposure to alcohol breakdown products on the brain, hereditary diseases, and, oddly enough, the patient's social status.

A person with low social responsibility has no motivation to heal. After removal acute condition psychosis and relief of unpleasant symptoms, as a rule, the alcoholic is again taken for the old.

Is there a favorable outcome of alcoholic psychosis

In most cases, alcoholic psychosis occurs after 3-5 years of continuous drinking, and this undermines not only the psyche. All organs suffer, without exception. Due to the huge amount of toxins, the liver and kidneys suffer. As a rule, during the period of binge, the patient does not eat, and over time this is reflected in the gastrointestinal tract. The vessels become thinner, and the heart muscle weakens. The patient dies not from psychosis, but from quite ordinary somatic diseases. Gastric ulcer, stroke, cirrhosis, tuberculosis, etc.

If the patient understands his condition, and his body is still strong enough, even after suffering alcoholic psychosis, the patient can live for a very long time. Of course, alcohol should be abandoned and regularly undergo a medical examination, including a psychiatrist.

Is it possible to treat alcoholic psychosis at home

In a state of acute psychosis, the patient becomes too dangerous for himself and for others. To remove toxins from the body, immobilization of the patient is required, that is, the patient must be immobilized. Sometimes it is very difficult to do this, because of the visions that haunt him, and the patient saves his life from demons, resisting with all his might.

At the first stage, apply infusion therapy, to remove alcohol toxins, in combination with psychotropic substances. These substances relieve the symptoms of psychosis, and the patient calms down.

The second stage consists in a vitamin complex to restore the dehydrated and exhausted patient's body.

In the case of treatment of alcoholic psychosis, drug therapy is not enough. Without psychotherapy, the patient will soon return to the previous way of life, and another exacerbation can be fatal.

At home, it is impossible to carry out any drug therapy, not to provide proper psychological support. Even if the patient miraculously endures several exacerbations and survives, his brain degrades, down to the state of a two-year-old child. But this is not for long either. Toxins will quickly do their job, and a person "burns out" in a matter of months, or even weeks.

affective psychoses

Affective psychosis is a group of disorders with ICD code 10. main feature affective disorder is a violation of the emotional mood of a person. Psychoses can be divided into groups:

Bipolar affective psychosis;

Manic affective psychosis;

Affective-shock reactive psychoses;

schizoaffective psychosis.

Each of these types is characterized by its own manifestations, symptoms, but the causes of the disorder in most cases are the same.

Affective psychoses are characterized by manifestations of two-phase. The mood ranges from severe depression to irrepressible joy and activity.

Most susceptible to the disease are creative individuals, with their fine mental organization. They explain periods of melancholy and despondency by the “lack of a muse”, but soon an attack of inspiration is observed, and the patient simply “flies”, working for days on end, without feeling hungry or tired. After such activity, a period of apathy sets in again and.

Women during menopause, pregnancy, adolescents during puberty are also at risk. An imbalance of hormones in the body destabilizes the psyche and sensitive people experience this especially acutely.

Affective disorders occur against the background prolonged stress. Under its influence, some waste products are not oxidized, and driven by the bloodstream enter the brain. These foods have an effect on the brain similar to hallucinogens, which leads to psychosis.

Affective psychosis: treatment, prognosis of the disease

Diagnosis of the disease, in addition to the conclusion of a psychiatrist, includes computed tomography of the brain and advanced biochemical analysis blood. The level of hormones and the level of electrical activity of the brain are examined using electroencephalography.

Since affective psychosis has a two-phase course, drugs are selected depending on the phase in which the patient is currently located. At depressive phase normotimics and antidepressants are used, in the active phase sedatives.

During treatment affective psychosis psychotherapy shows itself well, aimed at learning to use one's mental energy more rationally. These are art therapy, occupational therapy, and relaxation therapy.

An affective disorder is not a sentence, and it is quite successfully treated. The patient is only required to observe the daily regimen, a more gentle mode of work and awareness of the importance of receiving positive emotions.

Reactive psychoses

Reactive psychoses, have the ICD-10 code, and refer to psychogenic disorders, that is, it is an acquired disorder due to mental trauma. The severity of psychosis is directly dependent on how closely the patient perceived the situation. Fire, war, catastrophe, rape, death of a loved one, all this can cause reactive psychosis.

Forms of reactive psychoses are divided into several groups:

Hysterical reactive psychosis;

Protracted psychosis;

Reactive delusional psychosis.

Acute reactive psychosis - expressed in psychomotor agitation. The patient may randomly run, scream, or freeze in place. In the case of stupor, the patient does not speak, does not eat, does not move, and absolutely does not make contact. He is completely detached from the outside world and in this state he can stay for several hours or days.

Often, within the framework of hysterical protracted psychoses, deviations in behavior are observed, in the form of foolishness, falling into childhood, or "savagery".

Reactive depression occurs after a psychotrauma, and has a protracted character. The patient's consciousness narrows, and he experiences the traumatic situation again and again, and cannot break this circle. During an attack of despair, the patient may attempt suicide, and without appropriate treatment, the patient may die.

Reactive psychosis: treatment

Diagnosis of reactive psychosis is aimed at establishing the presence of a connection between a traumatic event and psychosis. If this connection is traced, drug treatment is prescribed, depending on the form of the disorder.

The tactics of providing medical care for reactive psychoses is aimed at removing the victim from the state of shock. Hospitalization for a shock reaction is optional, as a rule, in such cases, psychotherapy shows itself better (when state of shock will pass), and the study of a traumatic event.

The hospital shows the treatment of delusional and prolonged psychosis. Initially, drug therapy is carried out with neuroleptics or antidepressants, depending on the form of the disease, and only then a psychotherapist joins the treatment.

nursing care in neuroses and reactive psychoses it is very important. As a rule, patients are more favorable to junior medical staff, and can tell the nurse what they cannot tell the attending physician. Nursing care for a patient with reactive depression is to monitor him, take medication and prevent suicide attempts.

Senile psychosis

Senile psychosis has the ICD-10 code and combines manic-depressive psychosis and other disorders of the schizophrenic type. Senile psychosis is not dementia, and not, although the symptoms are sometimes very similar. Psychosis does not lead to dementia and is purely a mental disorder. The patient can retain mental abilities and skills during the period of remission. Senile psychosis occurs in people after 60 years of age, and women are more susceptible to this.

Acute senile psychosis is characterized by a gradual change in the behavior of the patient. There is weakness, insomnia, absent-mindedness and appetite is disturbed. Over time, unmotivated fears, suspicion, stinginess and hallucinations are added to these symptoms.

There is an accentuation of character, and all character traits of the patient become aggravated. A cheerful person becomes euphoric, a thrifty person becomes stingy, and a stern person becomes cruel and aggressive.

Senile paraphrenia is distinguished by elements of delusions of grandeur. The patient "remembers" the events of his life, weaving into it the heroic deeds he committed, meetings with celebrities, and enthusiastically tells these stories to anyone who wants to listen to him.

Chronic senile depression also develops predominantly in women. Attacks are replaced by self-flagellation, anxiety, often accompanied by Kotara's delirium. The patient is prone to exaggeration, depersonalization and nihilism. The patient may claim that he killed all the people in the world, and he himself died long ago. The visions of such patients are incredibly vivid, clear and grotesque.

Senile psychosis: treatment

Senile psychoses are diagnosed mainly from the words of relatives, and their treatment is hampered by the abundance of somatic diseases of an elderly person. Often the patient refuses hospitalization, and coercion can lead to an exacerbation of the disease. Most often, after the diagnosis is made, the responsibility for treating the patient falls on close relatives whom the elderly person trusts.

There is no cure for senile psychosis as such. medical therapy aimed at alleviating symptoms and caring for the elderly. To improve well-being, and to distract the patient from thinking about his problems, walks are recommended. fresh air, feasible physical exercise, art therapy, and hobby acquisition.

Traumatic psychosis

Acute traumatic psychosis occurs when the head hits a hard surface. For the occurrence of traumatic psychosis, the force of impact is not important, since this species disorders appear due to cerebral edema. And this can happen with a severe traumatic brain injury, and from a slight concussion.

The initial period of traumatic psychosis is a loss of consciousness or coma. After leaving the unconscious state, there is a certain stupor, slow reactions and drowsiness. The severity of these symptoms indicates the depth of the injury.

In an acute form, retrograde amnesia may appear. Excessive talkativeness, with flat jokes, is interspersed with tearfulness and endless health complaints.

In 30% of the injured, late and distant reactions to trauma occur. Appears unmotivated aggression, conflict, decreased intelligence and the acquisition of bad habits that were previously unusual for the patient.

When drinking alcohol, the patient is completely disinhibited all base instincts, which often ends in prison.

Treatment of traumatic psychoses

Traumatic psychosis is a consequence of traumatic brain injury, treatment is carried out in the Department of Neurosurgery.

The success of treatment directly depends on the degree of brain damage, and in most cases only vitamin complexes, to maintain health, and sedatives to reduce the patient's aggression.

Endogenous psychoses

The endogenous group of psychoses includes disorders that have an internal, somatic origin. This also includes hereditary diseases and senile pathologies. The main cause of endogenous psychosis is an imbalance in the central nervous and endocrine systems. Such psychosis can manifest itself both in a child and in an adult, outwardly healthy person.

The most difficult diagnosis is to establish children and adolescents. After all, the main symptoms of psychosis are irritability, out of place laughter, fantasies, etc. All this is inherent in many children to one degree or another. In the case of childhood and adolescent endogenous psychosis, the main symptom is the presence of delusions and hallucinations.

Acute endogenous psychosis can be caused by the intake of alcohol, drug-containing drugs or uncontrolled use medical preparations without doctor's advice. In the acute form, psychosis manifests itself as a manic, agitated state, alternating with depression and apathy.

Acute organic psychosis can occur due to a head injury or brain tumor. In this case, the underlying disease should first be cured, and then the patient should be observed for the appearance of late traumatic psychosis.

Endogenous psychoses: treatment, prognosis

Endogenous psychoses are the most complex and whether endogenous psychoses are treated, no one will give a guarantee. Success depends on the provoking factor and the timeliness of the patient's request for help.

Often the patient is not aware of his condition due to confusion, increased anxiety and hallucinations. During such exacerbations, hospitalization is necessary, and there can be no talk of home treatment. The patient may become socially dangerous. Even if the attack has passed, it will soon recur, but without treatment, the personality of the patient is destroyed more and more.

It is impossible to completely cure endogenous psychosis, but antipsychotics, tranquilizers and psychocorrection can increase the time of remission and relieve acute attacks of psychosis.

Begin preventive actions with endogenous psychoses, with the acceptance by the patient of his diagnosis. No one is embarrassed by stomach ulcers, but mental disorders cause fear, shame and denial. A person is not to blame for poor heredity and this must be reconciled. If there is a history of patients with schizophrenia, paranoid disorders - this is a reason not to hide your head in the sand, but to be regularly examined by a psychiatrist, and in a timely manner to identify the onset of the disease.

The disease can be defeated if you know about it, and help your body cope with the disease. It is not so difficult and accessible to everyone. You just need to keep a sleep schedule, exercise regularly, eat right and eliminate alcohol from your life. A positive attitude and optimism is a huge plus in the treatment of mental and somatic diseases.

Conclusion

In most cases, patient care falls on the shoulders of the patient's relatives. Sometimes it is difficult, but the recommendations given by the attending physician to patients and their relatives must be strictly followed. The patient is not always aware of his condition, and long-term treatment may lead relatives to believe that this treatment is ineffective. In such cases, relatives stop the treatment prescribed by the doctor and turn to alternative medicine. This is dangerous, and one must understand that mental disorders are not treated in one day. It's a daily battle and it takes some getting used to.

Can psychosis be cured?

Some types of psychosis are quite successfully treated, and not all mental disorders are a lifelong diagnosis.

Alcoholic, senile, hereditary psychoses require long-term treatment. Drug treatment of psychosis allows achieving some remission, however, external factors, such as stress, conflicts in the family, at work, can again affect the psycho-emotional state, causing a relapse of the disease.

Patients should not completely write themselves off and refuse treatment. Even during bouts of psychosis, the personality is not destroyed, but only a part of it suffers. Having stopped the symptoms, the person becomes himself again and can continue to live a normal life, like millions of healthy people. Even with schizophrenia, you can live a full life, go to work and start a family.

Not to be afraid of your illness, but to resist it - this is the main key to the success of the treatment of psychosis.

The difference between neurosis and psychosis

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Psychosis is a deviation from normal state psyche, which has pronounced symptoms. Often this word is used not in a medical, but in an everyday sense, when we want to describe behavior that does not correspond to the situation, sharp and unexpected manifestations of emotions. The word "psychosis" at the everyday level means behavior that is not adequate to the current moment.

This everyday definition has much in common with the medical one. Soviet physiologist I.P. Pavlov, familiar to everyone from school through experiments aimed at studying conditioned reflexes, defined this disorder as a mental disorder in which a person's reactions grossly contradict reality.

Causes of psychosis

There can be many reasons for the disorder. This condition can be triggered by the use of alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine and other psychoactive substances. Long-term use of antidepressants can also lead to this disorder. The same result can have the abolition of certain drugs (when a person stops taking a drug that he is used to).

The diagnosis of psychosis can be made not only for the above reasons. There are a number of social factors that create fertile ground for this disorder. Poverty comes first. Psychosis has been shown to be more common in people whose financial situation is at a low level.

The second factor is violence. The disorder may be triggered by physical abuse, including sexual abuse experienced in childhood or beyond. late age. Violence can be more than just physical. The disorder can arise as a result of emotional abuse (bullying, boycotting, isolation, etc.).

Another reason often found in children is hospitalization. The child may have a hard time being separated from home, being in unfamiliar conditions. Hospital treatment in this case can be perceived as violence.

In addition, psychosis can be triggered by repeated trauma. If a child experienced abuse as a child and encounters it again in adulthood, this can become the basis of a mental disorder.

Types of psychoses

There are various classifications of this disease. From the point of view of the cause of psychosis, they are divided into endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous in Latin means "generated by internal factors, intraborn." The causes of such disorders are associated with metabolic disorders in the brain. This variety includes bipolar personality disorder and depressive psychosis.

The next type is exogenous. Translated from Latin means "generated by external factors." A striking example is psychosis caused by taking psychoactive drugs (drugs, alcohol). In addition to psychoactive drugs, external factors include psychosocial causes: stressful situations, depression, violence, severe emotional experiences.

In addition, there are organic psychoses. They occur against the background or as a result of somatic diseases, for example, after a heart attack, infectious and other diseases.

Stages of psychosis

The stages of psychosis are called phases. There are 4 main phases: prodromal (initial), phase of untreated psychosis, acute and residual. How long each phase lasts depends on individual characteristics and human predispositions. However, it should be remembered that this disease is long-term. Taking into account all phases (not only acute), its course is measured in years or even decades.

The prodromal phase is characterized by the appearance of initially mild symptoms, which then become more and more pronounced. By the end of the stage, they become fully identifiable. At this stage, the most striking manifestations may occur - hallucinations and delusions. The duration of the phase varies from 2 to 5 years.

The phase of untreated psychosis begins when symptoms persist and ends with treatment.

In the state of the acute phase, a person may not understand what is happening to him, and may not be aware that he is sick. At this stage, the symptoms are most pronounced. This is nonsense, hallucinations, fragmented thinking.

After the course of treatment, the residual phase begins (from the English residue - residue). This stage is characterized by residual manifestations of symptoms. The residual phase stretches for an indefinite period. It can last until the end of the patient's life.

At the same time, suppressed by drug treatment symptoms may worsen over time. The period of exacerbation may come again. The possibility of recurrence is the specificity of the residual phase.

Signs of psychosis

Psychosis can be recognized at an early stage of development. For this, it is necessary to carefully analyze the precursors of the disease. These are subtle manifestations of symptoms that are often confused with signs of puberty, attributed to bad temper or unsociableness.

Harbingers include: anxiety, irritability, sensitivity, anger. The disease leaves an imprint on a person's thinking: there are problems with memory, building logical connections. Symptoms manifest themselves in appearance. Such a person can be called neglected, unkempt. a clear sign is a sleep disorder, which is expressed in drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia. The person may lose their appetite and become lethargic.

Manifestations of psychosis in women

feature female form is a rapid course of the disease and acute symptoms. Mild manifestations of the disorder are mood swings, which are often attributed to hormonal changes associated with childbirth or menopause.

The cause of the disease may be schizophrenia, disturbances in work thyroid gland, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, lesions nervous system. The disease can develop against the background of postpartum depression. To external reasons include alcohol, stress, depression.

A woman in a state of psychosis behaves excitedly, anxiously, or, conversely, is in a state of euphoria. These states alternate. Often they are accompanied by thoughts aloud (the patient speaks to herself or to imaginary interlocutors). At the same time, speech is distinguished by incoherence and confusion of thoughts. The person may experience visual and auditory hallucinations, which are often described as the presence of a certain voice that can give orders, direct the actions of a person.

At the same time, all patients are characterized by a lack of understanding of their condition.

Symptoms of psychosis in men

The specificity of the disease in men is that aggression is added to female symptoms. It is also typical for women, but to a lesser extent.

Psychoactive substances affect men less than women and are less likely to cause psychosis. This is due to the fact that the body weight of a man on average is greater than the body weight of a woman. Therefore, the poisoning effect of alcohol in the case of men is not as dangerous as in the case of women.

In addition, when drinking alcohol, the adrenal glands begin to produce male hormones. For men, this does not pose a danger, except for sexual arousal. In the case of a woman, this leads to irreversible hormonal changes.

Therefore, more often the cause of the disease in men is not alcohol, but social factors: employment problems, low social status, the need to compete and compete with colleagues and business partners. Such social pressure causes a feeling of hopelessness.

All this leads to irritability, gloomy and withdrawn behavior, apathy, depression. These symptoms often escalate into a form of aggression.

Treatment of psychosis

How to get rid of psychosis, you can find out from a specialist. Do not engage in self-diagnosis and self-treatment. The disease is associated with disorders in the brain, therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to do a CT scan or MRI. However, an experienced psychiatrist can determine the presence of a problem using tests that show a lack of connection with reality, illogical thinking, and other violations. mental activity.

Patients are prescribed antidepressants and tranquilizers ( sedatives). Such drugs work better in combination with physiotherapy procedures, physical therapy, which has a general strengthening effect and helps the patient to relax and be distracted.

High efficiency in the treatment of the disease demonstrates cognitive therapy or psychoanalysis. With its help, the doctor determines the cause of the disorder and adjusts the composition of the drug treatment.

Prevention of psychosis

Treatment of psychosis at home is impossible. However, there are a number of recommendations that will help you choose the right line of communication with loved ones suffering from this disorder.

The patient must be listened to, no matter how crazy his thoughts may seem, but you should not enter into a dialogue and try to defend your point of view. You should agree with the patient in everything. This is due to the fact that such a person may not understand what he is saying. During an exacerbation, a dispute can provoke a patient to aggressive actions. In such situations, you need to call an ambulance.

It should be remembered that psychosis is divided into manic and depressive. In the first case, antidepressants are contraindicated. Therefore, you should not choose the treatment yourself. If symptoms are found, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Possible consequences of untreated psychosis

There is no cure for psychosis. However, treatment of symptoms can provide a stable remission, that is, a state without recurrence of the disease. If the patient is not treated, the disease will definitely return. In advanced cases, the disease returns in an aggravated form. An extreme manifestation in such cases can be suicide.

If a person suddenly begins to behave completely inappropriately, they usually say about him that he has "lost his mind." Under this vernacular expression, a very specific medical diagnosis is usually hidden - psychosis or "a pronounced disturbance of mental activity, in which mental reactions grossly contradict the real situation."

This definition of psychosis belongs to the famous Russian scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov, the creator of the science of higher education. nervous activity, more known to all of us from the famous experiments with reflexes in dogs. The great scientist practiced at the beginning of the 20th century, since then medicine and science have stepped far forward, but his conclusions about the essence of psychosis and descriptions of this condition remain relevant at the present time.

Modern doctors believe that not a single person in the world is immune from the development of psychosis. Symptoms of psychotic disorders in adults and children can manifest as a result of a variety of diseases and conditions, injuries and brain disorders. The most common provoking factors include:

1. Unfavorable heredity. Scientists have identified at least one gene (ZNF804A) associated with psychosis, and have long proven that given state can be passed from parents to children
2. Brain injury. The more severe the damage to the brain, the higher the risk of developing psychosis, and it may not appear immediately, but after a long time.
3. Alcoholic or drug intoxication. Chemical poisoning of the brain, which occurs when taking alcohol or drugs, eventually leads to the destruction of its individual structures and can provoke the development of many mental disorders, including psychoses.
4. Taking certain medications.
5. Diseases of the nervous system, such as epilepsy, stroke, and so on.
6. Infectious diseases accompanied by disorders of brain activity.
7. Tumors of the brain.
8. Hormonal fluctuations in diseases or certain conditions - puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, and so on.
9. Deficiency of certain vitamins and electrolyte disorders (lack or excess of minerals) in the body.
10. Severe immune disorders.
11. Serious stress, psychotraumatic events.

This is far from full list causes that can cause psychotic disorders. Each case of psychosis is largely individual, and in the treatment of the disease, doctors have to take into account many concomitant factors, the combination of which led to the development of a painful mental state.

An example of acute psychosis after prolonged alcohol use: delusions of persecution, clouding of consciousness, the condition is complicated by cardiopathy

Classification of psychoses

Several types of classifications are used to systematize psychotic disorders. Most often, two schemes are used, according to which psychoses are divided according to the causes of their occurrence and according to the characteristics of the clinical picture.

According to the etiology and mechanisms of development, psychoses are divided into:

1. (in their development, the main role is played by internal factors of a neuroendocrine nature).
2. Organic (associated with damage to brain tissue).
3. Somatogenic (associated with other chronic diseases).
4. Psychogenic or (manifested in response to a serious psychological shock, stress).
5. Intoxication (caused by poisoning of brain cells with various poisons, alcohol, drugs, for example).
6. Withdrawal and post-withdrawal (occurring after drinking alcohol).

There is also a classification of psychoses according to the prevailing symptoms, based on the clinical picture:

1. Paranoid (with severe delusional experience).
2. Hypochondriacal (complaints about health).
3. Depressive (depression).
4. (state of overexcitation).

Quite often there are various combinations of different psychoses, because the course of the disease is not always accompanied by only one type of complaint.

Symptoms of psychosis

The signs of psychosis are usually so vivid that they are difficult to confuse with any other mental conditions.

The first thing that should alert others in human behavior is obvious inadequacy, increased activity, or vice versa, pronounced lethargy. These symptoms can be considered "early", usually they precede the development of the typical clinical picture of acute psychosis. In the future, other signs of the disorder may appear:

• motor excitement or complete stupor when the patient is in one position and does not respond to external stimuli;
• crazy ideas. It may seem to a person that someone is following him, wants to kill him, steal his things, that he is sick with a terrible disease, and so on. Delusions of jealousy are common in men, psychosis in women may be accompanied by delusions related to children (that someone will harm them, steal them, or that a child is a doll, animal, inanimate object);
• the patient can completely refuse food, sleep also often disappears;
• a person in a state of psychosis can speak in separate phrases or words, he is practically inaccessible for contact, does not understand the speech addressed to him;
• quite often there are hallucinations - visual (the patient sees something that is not really there), auditory (hears voices), tactile (feels non-existent touches, pain), taste;
• uncontrollable outbursts of rage, aggression are possible - both to oneself and to others;
• often the patient tries to commit suicide, not always understanding what result his actions can lead to. For example, he jumps from the window, “seeing” below not several floors of the building, but a cozy clearing with flowers;
• in a state of hyperactivity, a person sees no obstacles to his actions, gushes of energy, may begin to abuse alcohol, engage in promiscuous intimate relationships.

This is a fairly general and short list. possible symptoms psychosis. On practice clinical picture may be the most unpredictable, and even the variety of delusions in this disorder can be combined into a separate book, which will turn out to be quite thick. But in any case, one remains true important feature- absolute inadequacy of the patient's behavior in relation to the surrounding reality.

Psychoses in men and women

Statistics show that psychosis is more common in women than in men. The reason lies in the more global hormonal changes to which female body throughout life. There are also types of psychoses that develop exclusively in the fairer sex - during pregnancy and after childbirth -.

In addition to hormones, the characteristics of the female nervous system also play a role. The reaction to stress in women is, on average, more violent than in men, so it is easier for them to "shake" their nerves up to a psychotic disorder.

With regard to the symptoms and treatment of psychosis, there are no special differences between the sexes. Mental disorders in women proceed in much the same way as in men, and sometimes even more severe. For example, women often turn their aggression on children (up to killing or causing serious injuries), but men are more susceptible to alcoholic psychosis, since their alcoholism is almost always more severe.

First aid for psychosis

Early signs of approaching psychosis are quite difficult to determine by an outsider who has nothing to do with medicine. As a rule, the surrounding people begin to sound the alarm already when the patient's condition becomes really frightening, and no one has any doubts that the person has really gone crazy. What to do in this case, to help the patient and not harm himself?

Treatment at home is out of the question! To remove this condition, the patient needs mandatory hospitalization, and after it - long-term and regular monitoring of the local psychiatrist.

The first thing to do if someone around you shows symptoms characteristic of psychosis is to call ambulance and correctly describe the situation. The doctors themselves will figure out which team to send to the call and which hospital to take the patient to.

Before the arrival of doctors, you need to try to make sure that the patient does not harm himself or anyone else. Sometimes for this you even have to use physical force to deprive an overexcited person of the opportunity to move. This must be done as carefully as possible so as not to hurt yourself and not injure the patient.

If everything is not so critical, and the patient is just inadequate, but not aggressive, you can try to establish contact with him, explain that nothing terrible is happening, that no one will harm him. There is no guarantee that this technique will work, but many people, even in an altered state of consciousness, can be calmed down by the sound of a loved one's voice and benevolent intonations.

Some types of psychosis require more specific help - to put to bed, drink, warm, and so on. But since not even every doctor can make a diagnosis “by eye”, it is better not to go into details and not to guess what needs to be done in a given situation. Just stay close and wait for the ambulance to arrive.

Diagnosis and treatment

It is difficult to find a person who would not be afraid at one fine moment to be treated "in a psychiatric hospital", but in acute psychosis (especially if this is the debut of the disease), hospitalization is often inevitable. Even if the patient has known about his diagnosis for a long time, sometimes there are situations when the medicines prescribed by the doctor cease to properly influence the patient's condition, the psychosis recurs, and the person has to go to the hospital again.

Treatment in the clinic

In a hospital setting, it is much easier to make a diagnosis and choose the right treatment tactics. The patient is under round-the-clock supervision of experienced doctors, which minimizes the negative effects of psychosis.

The treatment of psychosis begins with the fact that with the help of medications (neuroleptics and tranquilizers) the patient is taken out of an inadequate state. If the cause of the disorder is drug or alcohol intoxication, a course of detoxification of the body is carried out at the same time.

At the same time, the doctor collects an anamnesis, monitors the patient and interviews his relatives to find out what could cause psychosis. It is not always easy to make a correct diagnosis, since there are a great many psychotic disorders, and they sometimes manifest themselves very similar symptoms, but the treatment of different psychoses can also be quite different.

When the diagnosis is made and the cause is clarified, the main stage of treatment begins.

1. The doctor selects for the patient the necessary dosage of drugs that he will take for a long time, sometimes for life. It is important to remember that the doses and regimen of taking medications cannot be changed on their own in order to avoid side effects and new manifestations of the disease.
2. If some other disease has become the cause of psychosis, the psychiatrist will recommend contacting another specialist (neurologist, endocrinologist, etc.), who will prescribe therapy for the underlying disease.
3. A patient suffering from alcohol or drug addiction will be recommended an extended course of rehabilitation in specialized center or clinic.
4. Sometimes psychotherapy is also used to treat psychosis, but with psychotic disorders this method is ancillary, not primary.

Treatment at home

How long it will take to treat psychosis can only be determined by the attending psychiatrist. In order to get rid of acute symptoms, usually a standard course of treatment in a hospital is enough (how long it will last is also determined by the doctor), but the therapy does not end there - recovery from psychosis lasts much longer than the patient is in a medical institution.

Relatives of the patient are usually given advice on how to behave and what to do to prevent the manifestation of new signs of psychosis. Relatives need to make sure that the patient regularly takes medication, follows the prescribed regimen and appears on time for an appointment with a doctor. Never try to treat psychosis folk remedies, refusing drugs - this inevitably leads to another exacerbation of the disease.

Another an important factor you can call the situation in the family. Often, especially in women, psychosis develops against the background of constantly suppressed negative emotions. And their cause, in turn, is a feeling of helplessness and lack of support from loved ones. Psychotherapists can help in working with such a condition, but in this case, therapy is not a quick matter, and while it continues, the patient must feel attention to himself and help from relatives.

Each person from the patient's close circle should know what psychosis is, how it manifests itself, and what signs indicate its approach. And if any behavioral disorders appear in the patient, you should immediately inform the psychiatrist about this.

Conclusion

Can psychosis be cured? The question is certainly very important, but not every doctor can answer it. Psychosis is a rather serious illness, its course depends on many factors, and even modern medicine not yet invented magic remedy that can relieve the patient of all symptoms once and for all.

One thing is for sure - if the patient is carefully treated, exactly fulfills the prescriptions of doctors, then the prognosis is more than favorable. Doctors have long learned to cure many (though not all) types of psychosis, so there are quite a lot of cases when the patient completely got rid of the manifestations of the disease and returned to normal life. Not every psychosis is curable, because there are too many factors involved, but if you know how to treat this condition, then it is much easier, and sometimes goes away for good.

Psychosis is mental illness in which a person is unable to adequately perceive the world and respond accordingly. Psychoses are quite diverse in their manifestations, they can also accompany very serious diseases from the category of "psychiatry" - for example, "", senile dementia, but they can also manifest themselves as an independent disease.

What is psychosis

If to speak plain language, then with psychosis in a sick person, reality is so distorted in the mind of a person that the “picture” in front of his eyes has nothing to do with reality. An objective patient cannot be due to fear for one's own life, the presence of voices in the head or visions - these internal prisms change a person's behavior, his reaction becomes unpredictable and inadequate. For example, with psychosis, a person may suddenly laugh or, conversely, begin to sob “out loud”.

Important! Psychosis manifests itself differently in everyone, and it is impossible to list absolutely all the options, although psychiatrists have systematized everything. known facts for the disease in question.

Psychosis is not a wrong train of thought, it is a disease. You should not argue with the patient, and even more so condemn him, swear with him - psychosis is exactly the same disease as, but in our society the attitude towards diabetics is quite adequate. By the way, psychoses are not irreversible processes! Most often, after a certain period of the disease (it can be very difficult), the patient goes into remission, and the psyche is completely restored.

Interesting! There are cases when the disease in question has never occurred again in life, although psychosis is inherent in a cyclical nature, when after long period recovery, hallucinations or delusions suddenly appear. Usually, such a development of the disease takes place in case of non-compliance with the prescriptions of the attending physician.

Note:if a person does not follow the recommendations and prescriptions of a doctor, then psychosis can transform into a chronic form of the course, and in this case, mental health will be lost forever, with no chance of recovery.

In general, psychosis is a fairly common problem; according to statistics, 15% of patients in psychiatric clinics are just patients with psychosis. By the way, most often the disease in question develops in women - for example, it is diagnosed 4 times more often in female patients. In addition, psychoses worsen during the period immediately after childbirth or during menstruation, and this allows us to conclude that mental illness is somehow associated with hormonal "jumps" in the body.

Reasons for the development of psychosis

A variety of factors and causes can lead to the disease in question, and sometimes doctors simply cannot understand why a person has such pathological changes in mental health. And however, doctors have systematized and identified several factors that can lead to psychosis:

1. Heredity. There is a group of genes that are necessarily passed from parents to children - genes that control the sensitivity of the brain to external influences and/or signal substances.
   If both parents have a history of psychosis, then with a probability of 50% it is possible to predict the birth of a child in the future of which the development of psychosis is possible. By the way, if parents do not suffer from psychoses, then this problem may manifest in their children due to the sudden manifestation of “defective” genes inherited from other generations.
   Note:if a person has a burdened heredity, then his psychosis can develop against the background of even a minor injury or some kind of illness. In this case, psychosis will develop already in the early childhood, proceed quickly and in a very severe form.
2. Brain injury. Psychosis can lead to:
   • head injuries received by the child during childbirth;
   • craniocerebral injuries of open and closed type.

   The mental disorder in question can occur hours or even days after the injury. Doctors clearly distinguish a pattern - the more severe the injury, the more severe the psychosis.
   The disease under consideration, caused by brain injuries, is characterized by a cyclical nature - periods of pronounced manifestations of psychosis are replaced by periods of remission. Such a wave-like course of the disease is associated with the tides and outflows of cerebrospinal fluid, that is, with an increase and stabilization of intracranial pressure.

3. brain poisoning. Such poisoning can be triggered by a variety of substances - and drugs.
4. Diseases of the nervous system. It's about and. These diseases provoke the death of cells of the cerebral cortex, which ends with swelling of the surrounding tissues and dysfunction of certain affected areas of the brain.
5. brain tumors.
6. Infectious diseases. Influenza, leprosy. With the development of such diseases in the human body, living microorganisms, however, like the dead, release toxins that can poison nerve cells, which leads to their death.
7. Diseases associated with severe pain and panic. These include, . Pain is always, and asthma attacks can completely drive anyone crazy! Such violations lead to a malfunction of the nervous system.
8. Hormonal disorders. They can be caused by childbirth or abortion, thyroid problems, ovarian or adrenal dysfunction.

Psychiatrists are sure that the disease in question never appears “one fine day”, for example, after suffering a nervous shock. Just every stressful situation“undermines” the brain, each time a person’s reaction to any event becomes brighter and more emotional, and this will continue until psychosis develops.

Manifestations (symptoms) of psychosis

The manifestations of psychosis are very diverse, but it is desirable to know the main symptoms of this disease in order to be able to provide medical assistance to early stage development of the pathology in question. For example, others may notice that a person reacts too emotionally to what is happening, refuses to eat, makes strange statements, or vice versa - is not interested in the outside world, shows indifference to everything.

The main manifestations of psychosis include:

hallucinations

They can be auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory and gustatory. Most often, psychosis is manifested by voice hallucinations - it seems to a person that he hears voices that can be not only in the head, but also come from the body or come from outside. The voices are so real that the patient takes them quite seriously and does not doubt their authenticity. These voices can swear, accuse the patient of something, threaten and order. Just the last option is the most dangerous - patients in almost 100% of cases follow the orders of these voices, and no one knows what they will order.

You can guess that a person has hallucinations by the following signs:

Mood disorders (mood disorders)

They can be depressive or manic. Manifestations of depressive disorders will be as follows:

• the patient stays in one position for a long time, he has no desire to move;
• a person wakes up early - at 3-4 in the morning, his sleep is disturbed;
• the patient is in a pessimistic mood, that is, he expresses dissatisfaction with everything possible;
• a person constantly takes food, or completely refuses it.

But manic disorders look completely different:

• the patient is overly emotional, becomes extremely active, moves a lot, but most often aimlessly;
• a person is constantly in an optimistic mood and does not see problems;
• the patient is verbose, communicates a lot with others, reacts too emotionally to everything that happens around;
• a person makes unrealizable plans, his need for sleep decreases - he sleeps little, but he always feels himself and looks cheerful and rested;
• the patient may abuse alcohol and be promiscuous.

crazy ideas

Delusion is a thought disorder that manifests itself in the form of an idea that does not correspond to reality. Brad has and distinguishing feature- others do not manage to convince the patient, even if they give well-reasoned and logical arguments. A psychotic patient expresses crazy ideas very emotionally, and he is firmly convinced that he is right. To hallmarks delusions can be attributed to:

• increased emotionality;
• delirium is sharply different from reality;
• the patient always puts his own personality in his statements in a central place;
• the patient's behavior is completely subject to a delusional idea (for example, he may refuse food, being sure that he is being poisoned);
• protective actions of an unreasonable nature are manifested.

Movement disorders

During periods of exacerbation of psychosis, the patient may also have movement disorders:

1. Stupor / lethargy - a person freezes in one position, for a long time (days and even weeks) remains without movement.
2. Motor excitation - all movements become too fast and impetuous, but often aimless, the patient's facial expressions will be overly emotional.

Note:personality traits are always manifested in the symptoms of psychosis. Both doctors and relatives of the patient have long noted that the inclinations, interests and fears inherent in a healthy person intensify during illness and in some cases become the goal of his existence.

Classification of psychoses

Most often, manic and depressive psychoses are diagnosed, when an outwardly healthy person suddenly shows signs of depression or significant arousal. Such types of psychosis are called monopolar, that is, deviations occur in one of the indicated parties. In some cases, the disorder is bipolar in nature, and in this case, doctors diagnose "".

manic psychosis

This is a severe mental disorder characterized by high mood, accelerated thinking and speech, physical activity. Such periods of excitement can last from 3 months to one and a half years.

elevated mood

A person without visible reasons there is a good mood and a surge of optimism. Moreover, a positive attitude is maintained even with existing difficulties and problems - the patient is glad to make new acquaintances, actively communicates with others, is ready to help everyone, is full of ideas and highly appreciates his own capabilities.

In some cases, an attack of good mood is replaced by an angry mania - the actions of those around the patient cause irritation, a person constantly finds a reason for a quarrel / fight, he may experience a fit of rage.

Accelerated speech and thinking

With manic psychosis, all mental processes in the human body proceed at an accelerated pace, which leads to uncontrolled excitement in different areas brain. The patient's speech becomes loud/expressive/fast, he is able to quickly get involved in the work, he has an active manifestation of creative abilities.

Did you know that Kafka, Dali, Bulgakov and other authors wrote their the best works precisely at the moment of exacerbation of manic psychosis? Some psychiatrists are generally convinced that the state of the brain in manic psychosis is more productive.

The problem is that a person with manic psychosis rarely finishes what he has begun, it is difficult for him to concentrate on completing one task, and others notice his absent-mindedness or forgetfulness.

manic psychosis makes impulsive decisions - for example, the patient may quit in order to start traveling.

Increased motor activity

The attack of the mental disorder in question is accompanied by the opening of the reserves of the patient's body - he is constantly on the move, absolutely does not feel tired, eats a lot, but does not get fat, since his motor activity burns all the calories that have entered the body.

depressive psychosis

This is a disease of the brain, but the external side of the disease will be just the manifestations characteristic of depressive psychosis. The condition under consideration also has three characteristic features.

Pathologically low mood

The patient's thoughts are concentrated only around himself, his shortcomings and mistakes. Such constant thoughts lead to the conclusion that in the past everything was bad for a person, the present is also absolutely not rosy, and you shouldn’t even think about the future - this condition is very dangerous, because it leads to suicide.

In a patient with depressive psychosis, the intellect is completely preserved, so he can carefully hide his condition from others. This leads to the fact that at home it is impossible to prevent a suicide attempt, so people with depression, who are focused on self-destruction and their own low value, are placed in inpatient departments of medical institutions for treatment.

Mental retardation

A person in this state constantly experiences causeless longing, which oppresses and crushes. Interestingly, in this state, the patient can accurately indicate the location of the pain. The patient always looks sad and gloomy, avoids communication with people, tries to retire, slowly responds to treatment, and answers questions reluctantly, in a monosyllable and monotonous voice.

Physical retardation

Depressive psychosis is characterized by refusal of food - the patient quickly loses weight. Therefore, when a person in this state begins to eat regularly and gain weight, it is believed that the process of his recovery is underway.

The movements of the patient are inhibited, slow. He constantly experiences a breakdown, and any physical activity only provokes a deterioration in his condition.

If the mental disorder in question is severe, then the patient may fall into a stupor - he sits in one position for a long time, does not move and looks at one point.

postpartum psychosis

This is a fairly rare mental illness, the signs of which appear 4-6 weeks after birth. The difference between postpartum psychosis and depression is that in this case hallucinations, delusions and a desire to harm yourself or the child will be characteristic.

To The first signs of postpartum psychosis include:

• sudden mood swings;
• severe anxiety;
• anxiety;
• causeless fears.

As the problem develops, the woman may develop delusions and hallucinations. For example, a woman may claim that her baby was born dead or crippled, or a young mother stops going for walks due to the development of paranoia.

Note:according to statistics, 5% of women with postpartum psychosis commit suicide, and 4% kill their own child. Therefore, others should carefully observe the behavior of the mother in order to pay attention in time to the signs of the disease in question. mental disorder and apply for qualified medical care.

Reactive psychosis

It is also called psychogenic shock, which means the development of a mental disorder after a psychological trauma. This type of disease under consideration has distinctive features:

1. Reactive psychosis begins after a severe emotional shock.
2. This type of mental disorder is a reversible process. The longer time passes after psychological trauma the less intense the symptoms. After about a year, human health is restored.
3. All manifestations and experiences in reactive psychosis are directly related to the nature of psychological trauma, they are quite understandable to others.

It is extremely rare that the treatment of reactive psychosis requires the use of specific medications, but the help of a psychotherapist is an important part of recovery. But it is advisable to resort to the services of such specialists only after acute phase the disorder has passed, and the patient is able to adequately perceive the arguments of specialists.

Treatment of psychosis

Treatment of the disease in question should be started as early as possible. As a rule, in this case, the treatment will take place in the form of consultations, but there are certain criteria that are the reason for the hospitalization of the patient:

• a person with psychosis is a danger to himself and others;
• the patient is helpless and unable to independently provide for their own vital needs;
• there is a risk that human health will be harmed.

In addition, it is worth making sure that in the process of treatment the patient leads healthy lifestyle life, exercise good nutrition, communication with loved ones, holidays are able to restore mental health, return the patient to life.

Note:It is strictly forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages during the treatment of psychosis. Firstly, the drugs used as part of therapy are incompatible with alcohol-containing drinks, and secondly, alcohol can only aggravate gloomy thoughts, make them deeper.

First aid for psychosis

The health of people with the diagnosis in question largely depends on the actions of the people around them ( we are talking about loved ones). You should remember the basic rules of communication with a sick person:

1. If a person clearly shows signs of manic excitement, then there is no need to argue with him or object to him. This can provoke an attack of rage or anger, aggression. It is advisable in moments of manic activity to maintain calmness, self-confidence and goodwill towards the patient. It is necessary to isolate him from others, try to talk to him and calm him down during the conversation.
2. 80% are committed by people in a state of depressive psychosis. You need to be extremely attentive to the patient during this period - you should not leave him alone, especially in the morning. Suicide is preceded by a sharp transition from depression to a bright, peaceful mood - the patient begins to put all his affairs in order, draws up a will. Such a drastic change should alert others, you may need to turn to specialists. Another point - you need to hide from the patient all items that can be used for suicide - household chemicals, weapons, any sharp objects, weapons.
3. If it was noticed that the patient had hallucinations, then you need to calmly take his hands and ask about what happened. If the patient answers that he saw or heard something unusual, then ask him how he feels about what he saw / heard. In no case should you make fun of him, argue with him about hallucinations and say that it is impossible to hear voices.

note: do not seek help from psychics or healers. Psychosis is a complex mental disorder for which it is important to determine the cause of the onset and only then treat it. The later an appeal for qualified medical help is made, the more difficult the recovery process will be.

The most difficult step for relatives of a patient with psychosis is to call an ambulance for psychiatric care, which will result in the placement of a person in a specialized psychiatric clinic. But this is necessary if the patient constantly talks about suicide, or can harm others.

Psychological help

The most important step in the treatment of psychosis is psychotherapy. T what psychological help includes:

1. Group therapy - helps the patient feel like a member of society, inspires hope and faith in healing.
2. Psychoeducation is the enlightenment of the patient and his family members, which helps both the patient and his surrounding relatives to perceive psychosis as a common illness.
3. Addiction therapy - is used only if the psychosis has developed against the background of alcohol or drug use.
4. Behavioral (cognitive) therapy - the doctor teaches the patient to be critical of his own judgments, talks about how to quickly find a solution to the problem. It is behavioral therapy that is considered one of the best treatments for depressive psychosis.
5. Family therapy - special classes that a psychiatrist conducts for family members of a psychotic patient.

Note:psychoses are never cured by hypnosis. This method can lead to irreversible pathological processes in the mind of the patient.

Medications for the treatment of psychosis

There is no single scheme for prescribing drugs in the treatment of the disease in question. But you need to know that taking medication is prerequisite for recovery.

As a rule, doctors during the treatment of psychosis use the following drugs:

• Solian, Zeldox, Fluanxol - neuroleptics;
• Actinevral, Kontemnol - mood stabilizers;
• Zopiclone, Oxazepam - benzodiazepines;
• Cyclodol - anticholinergic;
• Sertraline, Paroxetine -.

Only a doctor can choose an effective medicinal product, prescribe the dose and duration of the course ma. Self-adjustment of these appointments is strictly prohibited!

Prevention of relapse of psychosis

Unfortunately, in 80% of cases, patients with psychosis suffer a relapse of the disease. But there are some measures that can prevent the recurrence of the disease in question. To prevent relapse of psychosis include the following recommendations:

Psychosis is a disease that can be treated. Do not be afraid or ashamed of your condition, because only timely seeking qualified medical help will guarantee recovery.

Tsygankova Yana Alexandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category

Psychosis is in which the patient does not have a normal perception of reality, and he cannot react to it in a certain way.

Often this ailment accompanies senile dementia and alcoholic delirium (madness), but it is possible to act as an independent pathology.

Causes

Function nerve cell disrupted due to the fact that mitochondria do not produce ATP. The neuron does not receive proper nutrition, and it does not form and does not transmit a nerve impulse. Because of this, the activity of the entire central nervous system cannot function normally, which leads to the development of psychosis.

The manifestations of the disease depend on the damage to the structure of the central nervous system.

Provoking factors :

1. genetic burden
   
2. Head injury.
3. Severe intoxication with alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs and drugs.
4. Diseases of the nervous system.
5. Infectious diseases: influenza, mumps, malaria.
6. Neoplasms of the brain.
7. Severe attacks of bronchial asthma.
8. Systemic diseases.
9. Avitaminosis B1 and B3.
10. Hormonal disorders.
11. Strong neuro-emotional overstrain.
12. Electrolyte disturbance caused by vomiting, diarrhea and a strict diet.

Classification

2 main groups of the disease:

Endogenous psychosis caused by internal factors (disorder of the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems).

• Exogenous caused by external factors (infections, intoxication, nervous strain, mental trauma).

Depending on appearance:

• Spicy: develops instantly.
• Reactive: formed due to prolonged exposure to mental trauma.

Besides, by etiology and pathogenesis distinguish the following forms of the disease:

• Alcoholic;
• amphetamine psychosis;
• Hypomanic psychosis;
• Hysterical;
• Korsakovsky;
• Senile;
• involutionary;
• Paranoid;
• schizoaffective;
• Postpartum.

Signs of psychosis

With the development of the disease, a change in behavioral and emotional reactions is characteristic, thinking is disturbed.

The patient is unable to perceive reality correctly, may resist hospitalization and medical measures.

Psychosis in women: symptoms and signs

For them, the most characteristic features are:

• Sleep is disturbed;
• Mood changes frequently
• Appetite worsens;
• There is a feeling of threat and anxiety;
• Motor activity is sharply reduced;
• Mindfulness is lost;
• The woman becomes distrustful, tries to isolate herself from everyone;
• Interest in religion, magic may suddenly wake up.

Alcoholic psychosis: symptoms and treatment

This form is characterized by the following features:

This state is also called "white fever" . Appears after 2-7 days, as a person finishes drinking alcohol. It can last for several hours or days. It is characterized by a sharp change in mood, insomnia and psychomotor agitation.

First, a person feels anxiety, appears shiver head and hands. After some time, the consciousness is clouded, terrifying hallucinations: the appearance of devils, monsters, a sense of touch, terrible voices. There is a complete violation of the topographic and temporal orientation. Available somatic disorders and in the form of muscle hypotension, increased sweating, increased body temperature, tachycardia.

As a rule, the delirium ends after a long sleep.

2. Alcoholic hallucinosis

Most common in people over 40 years of age with a total alcoholism experience of about 10 years . It can develop with withdrawal symptoms or on the last day of a prolonged binge.

Exist 2 forms of hallucinosis:

Acute: lasts several hours or weeks. The patient feels anxiety, sleep disorder. The appearance of auditory, sometimes visual hallucinations is characteristic.

After a few days, the visions lose their brightness and eventually disappear, and the patient loses tension and delusional ideas. The main feature of this form is that the patient does not lose topographic, temporal and personal orientation.

lingering: it is typical for her that a person is unable to distinguish hallucinations from reality, and they correspond to the everyday situation. Symptoms are dominated by hallucinations, delusions, or movement disorders.

3 . Alcoholic paranoid

Characteristic for individuals with alcoholism about 12-13 years old . Due to insomnia, a person is constantly tormented by anxiety, it is possible to develop an acute delusion of persecution.

Such patients are convinced that they can be poisoned or slaughtered.

Paranoid happens sharp and protracted. At first form, it appears for several days, less often weeks, and with second- long and lasts for months.

A person often looks healthy, but he becomes too suspicious, does not trust anyone, there is always fear and anxiety. The patient tries to limit the circle of communication.

Over time, such people are more and more convinced that they are right, and nonsense becomes extremely implausible . They are dangerous for loved ones, however, if a person stops drinking, crazy ideas disappear.

Treatment

1. Medical therapy

• (Aminazine,

  1. Physiotherapy

  The following methods are used:

  • Electrosleep;
  • Sanatorium-resort therapy;
  • Acupuncture;
  • Occupational therapy.

  They help relieve stress, increase efficiency and improve metabolism.

  1. Electroconvulsive therapy

     The basis is the induction of convulsive seizures due to the action electric current, affecting the subcortical structures of the brain and the metabolism of the nervous system.

  The success of therapy largely depends on the time of the start of therapeutic measures: the earlier treatment is started, the higher the probability of curing a mental disorder and preventing negative consequences for personality.

  Video