Key Takeaways
Psychosis refers to a series of symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, that cause people to lose touch with reality.
Psychosis is a common symptom of mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression with psychotic features. It can also be triggered by substance use, lack of sleep, and childbirth.
The exact treatment will depend on what’s causing the psychosis but may involve medication, talk therapy, and social support.
Psychosis refers to a series of symptoms that affect a person’s ability to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. Research suggests that 15 to 100 out of every 100,000 people develop psychosis each year.
It can be a symptom of mental health conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder or triggered by factors like substance use or extreme trauma. Regardless of its cause, early intervention is the best way to manage symptoms, cope with distress, and regain clarity and control.
Are there different types of psychosis?
Psychosis is a common symptom of multiple mental health conditions. It’s a defining feature of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and delusional disorder. It’s also associated with mood disorders like bipolar disorder and major depression with psychotic features.
In some cases, psychosis can be triggered by specific factors, including:
Signs and symptoms of psychosis
Psychosis describes a series of symptoms that cause people to lose touch with reality. Specific symptoms will depend on what’s causing the psychosis but may include:
Hallucinations: A hallucination is a sensory experience, like a sound or smell, that seems real but isn’t. For example, hearing a voice when no one else does is a type of hallucination.
Delusions: A delusion is a fixed, false belief. For example, being convinced that you’re receiving special messages from the TV is a type of delusion.
Disorganized thoughts and speech: You may have difficulty expressing yourself clearly and logically. Examples include structuring sentences in unusual ways and answering questions with excessive and irrelevant detail.
Disorganized behavior: This involves unpredictable or inappropriate behaviors, such as trouble following directions or managing emotional reactions.
Decrease or loss of typical functioning: This can include lack of energy, focus, movement, or motivation. For example, you may have previously been animated in your facial expressions but now make minimal expressions.
In many cases, people will exhibit behavior changes before psychosis even develops. Warning signs of a possible psychotic episode include:
New and unusual thoughts, beliefs, and ideas
Decreased performance at work or school
Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
Social isolation and withdrawal
Sudden decline in self-care and personal hygiene
Difficulty trusting other people
What causes psychosis?
Psychosis can occur due to a combination of risk factors, including genetics, brain abnormalities, and environmental stressors. Triggers such as severe stress, trauma, anxiety, lack of sleep, or unhealthy substance use can increase the risk of psychotic symptoms starting or getting worse — especially in people who are already vulnerable.
Psychosis can also be a symptom of a mental or behavioral health condition. In some cases, it’s linked to medical conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, brain tumors, infections, or low blood sugar. Certain medications may also play a role.
Long-term effects of psychosis
The severity and duration of a person’s psychosis will depend on what’s causing their symptoms, as well as their willingness to seek and stick to treatment. Some research suggests that 25% of people who develop psychosis will experience just a single episode. However, others will have repeat psychotic episodes that require ongoing support.
Psychosis can make it difficult to complete normal tasks, like going to work or school, maintaining relationships, and taking care of yourself. For those who experience ongoing psychosis, it can increase the risk of:
*The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, confidential support with trained crisis counselors. If you or a loved one is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, please call or text 988. If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency or need immediate help, please call 911.
How long does psychosis last?
The length of psychosis can vary from person to person. For some people, psychosis is temporary and lasts days or weeks. This is more likely when symptoms are triggered by stress, lack of sleep, unhealthy substance use, or a medical issue that can be treated.
For others, psychosis may be ongoing or recurrent, especially when it’s linked to a mental health condition like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression. In these cases, symptoms may come and go over time.
Early treatment plays a key role in recovery. Getting help quickly can reduce how long psychosis lasts, lessen symptom severity, and improve long-term outcomes.
How is psychosis treated?
Psychosis can be treated, and many people experience significant improvement with the right care. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), it’s common for people to experience psychotic symptoms for more than a year before seeking treatment. However, the sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll learn to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Once you seek professional support, your provider will conduct a comprehensive assessment to help them understand your experience and identify what’s causing your symptoms. This may involve lab work, brain imaging scans, and a thorough review of your health history and medications.
The exact treatment approach will depend on what’s causing the psychosis. For example, managing drug-induced psychosis usually involves a medical detox to eliminate toxins and control withdrawal symptoms. Treatment may even vary among psychotic disorders, with severe cases requiring hospitalization.
In most cases, managing psychosis involves both medications and talk therapy. Medication is used to control symptoms of psychosis, while therapeutic techniques — like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — can help reduce distress and improve functioning. CBT can even be used to prevent a first psychotic episode and improve mental well-being in people who are considered high risk for psychosis.
Social support from family, friends, and support groups can play an essential role in managing psychosis. Your provider may also suggest lifestyle changes, such as getting enough sleep, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and minimizing stress through activities like meditation and exercise.
Clinician's take
Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes for those experiencing psychosis. A mental health professional can help assess the situation, provide support, and determine the best course of action in collaboration with you.
Find care with Rula
Whether you’ve experienced a single psychotic episode or have ongoing psychosis, your symptoms may be confusing and overwhelming. The good news is that mental health treatment can help people manage distress, cope with symptoms, and improve functioning.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
