Types Of Psychosis: Exploring How Psychotic Disorder Variations Affect Behavior

Many mental and physical conditions can cause psychosis, which can be defined as a disconnection from reality. As a result, it can be helpful to understand the various psychotic disorders and how they can affect your mood, behavior, and perception in different ways. 

Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and delusional disorder, among other psychotic disorders, can all lead to psychotic symptoms. Other mental health conditions and even physical medical conditions can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms. While you may need in-person treatment during active psychotic episodes, online therapy can help you develop healthy coping skills, identify and avoid triggers, and build positive thought and behavior patterns.

What is psychosis?

Psychosis, also referred to as a psychotic break or psychotic episode, generally refers to a single incident, while a psychotic disorder typically involves repeated occurrences or patterns. Studies show that between 1.5% and 3.5% of the adult American population may meet the clinical criteria for a psychotic disorder diagnosis, but a much more significant percentage of the population may experience at least one psychotic symptom during their lifetime. Recognizing the early warning signs and seeking treatment from a healthcare provider may help improve outcomes for people who experience psychosis.  

Recognizing the types

Recognizing the types of psychosis includes understanding its key symptoms: hearing voices (auditory hallucinations), having false beliefs (delusions), and experiencing disorganized thinking, among other symptoms. These symptoms can significantly affect a person's ability to distinguish reality, which can affect their daily life. Non-bizarre delusions, such as believing one is under surveillance, and grandiose delusions, where an individual may believe they have extraordinary abilities, are also common. 

Psychosis can occur for many reasons and presents with a wide variety of psychological, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, between 0.25% and 0.64% of American adults may be diagnosed with schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. Below, we’ll take a deeper dive into some common causes and types of psychosis.

The schizophrenia spectrum

The category of conditions primarily characterized by psychosis is schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, which generally encompasses a set of mental health disorders with similar symptoms and causes. This explanation shows that the word “psychosis” is used widely to describe many different conditions. 

Schizophrenia

This can be defined as a mental illness involving a loss of connection to reality characterized by delusions, disorganized or confused thinking, and hallucinations. According to recent studies, 50% to 90% of schizophrenia patients tend to have limited insight into their condition, which can be a significant obstacle to treatment.

Schizoaffective disorder

As a type A mental illness on the schizophrenia spectrum, schizoaffective disorder usually combines the symptoms of schizophrenia with the manic and depressive cycles of bipolar disorder. 

Schizophreniform disorder

With schizophreniform disorder, symptoms and behaviors of schizophrenia typically persist for one to six months. 

Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD)

STPD usually involves established patterns of extreme discomfort during social interactions, combined with unusual thought, speech, and behavior patterns, which can make it difficult to form and maintain social connections. 

Other mental health conditions

Other mental or physical health conditions may result in psychosis, including the examples below.

Delusional disorder

Delusional disorder usually involves difficulty differentiating between what’s real and imagined. You may notice intrusive, persistent thoughts you have trouble setting aside, regardless of others’ beliefs.

Brief psychotic disorder

This type of psychosis refers to the sudden onset of psychosis or psychotic behavior that persists for one month or less, followed by remission, though relapses are still possible.  

Medication or substance-induced psychotic disorder

Some prescribed medications, alcohol, and recreational drugs can cause psychosis, altering your perception until you lose touch with reality.

Postpartum psychosis

After giving birth, some people experience a mental health emergency that alters their perception and sense of reality. Severe cases can cause psychotic breaks in which someone hurts themself or their newborn. 

Shared psychotic disorder

Two or more people in a close relationship may share the same delusion. 

Medical condition or injury-induced psychotic disorder

Psychosis isn’t always a strict mental health condition. Some medical illnesses can lead to a break from reality. For example, neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, physical ailments like stroke or traumatic brain injury, and many other physical, cognitive, and emotional health concerns can cause psychosis. 

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder can involve psychosis during periods of mania. 

Severe depression

The effects of stress and depression can be cumulative, building up over time. When you reach your threshold, you may experience a psychotic episode. 

The phasic cycle

Psychotic disorders can involve repeated instances of psychosis in a phasic cycle. Understanding these different phases can offer insight into how you might expect your symptoms to change over time.

Prodrome 

The prodrome phase of psychosis is generally considered the early warning stage. This phase can be crucial for early detection and intervention, which can improve patient outcomes. 

People with a family history of psychosis should be aware of and watch for prodromal symptoms in their young adult relatives, as they often emerge between the late teens and mid-20s. The prodrome phase can indicate that how you think and perceive yourself and the world around you is beginning to change or that your grip on reality is starting to slip. 

Early prodromal warning signs may include:

• Increasing difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly 
• A substantial decline in your functional ability and work or school performance
• Decreased personal hygiene and self-care
• Suspicion, distrust, or discomfort around other people
• Declining interest in social interaction and increased isolation
• Intense mood swings or inappropriate emotional responses that don’t fit the situation
• A noticeable lack of emotional reactions or feelings when circumstances call for them

Acute

The critical period during the psychosis cycle is often when symptoms are most intense. You may experience common psychotic symptoms, such as:

• Hallucinations
• Disorganized and confused thoughts and speech
• Delusions
• Confused, erratic behavior
• Catatonia
• Decreased speech and movement speed
• Loss of interest in social contact and enjoyable activities
• An overall decline in functional ability 

Recovery 

The third phase of psychosis normally involves working through the symptoms to reconnect with reality. During this time, an individual may focus on developing a comprehensive treatment plan with a licensed mental health professional and discover healthy coping skills to help them live a fulfilling life with a psychotic disorder. 

While psychosis relapses can occur, you will likely be better prepared to manage them in the future if you have foundational skills in place. Approximately 50% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have one or more comorbid mental health conditions or behavioral health disorders.

Treatment options that assist those in psychosis recovery may include:

• Ongoing psychotherapy treatment
• Antipsychotic medication
• Support groups or group therapy

Never start or stop any form of medication unless under the guidance of a licensed medical professional.

What causes psychotic disorders?

Psychosis and psychotic disorders often have overlapping causes that may combine to produce symptoms. Risk factors for developing psychosis encompass a range of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. For example, a person with a family history of psychotic disorders may have a higher risk of experiencing psychosis. Other underlying causes might include environmental stressors such as traumatic experiences or substance abuse, which can trigger symptoms in vulnerable individuals. 

Common examples of potential psychosis causes may include the following:

• Some neurological, psychiatric, or physical health conditions
• Genetics
• Prolonged, severe mental illness
• Neurochemistry differences and chemical imbalances
• Alcohol or substance use
• Traumatic brain injury or other head trauma
• Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event

How therapy can help manage psychotic symptoms

The way psychosis is treated often depends on understanding the specific nuances of each case. Working with a licensed therapist or other mental health professionals may help people with psychosis manage symptoms. As you seek treatment through therapy, you can take advantage of opportunities like those below.

• Developing emotional intelligence and awareness: Learn to recognize, understand, and express your emotions, thoughts, and ideas healthily. 
• Recognizing unhealthy thoughts and behaviors: Examine your experiences to discover how they may affect your thoughts and actions, identify maladaptive habits, and work to reform them to positive, productive patterns. 
• Establishing practical coping skills: Discover healthy ways to manage your stress and symptoms, enabling you to choose a practical coping mechanism to fit the situation and help you maintain emotional balance. 
• Creating a crisis plan: Work with your therapist to create a crisis plan with all the necessary information to help if psychosis prevents you from caring for yourself. Distribute copies to friends, family, and the members of your support network.
• Learning to understand psychosis triggers: Recognize your psychosis triggers and comprehend how they will likely affect you, such as certain factors that may cause hallucinations. Avoiding triggers can help you prevent or reduce the severity of psychotic episodes. 

In addition to therapy, a mental healthcare provider will generally recommend prescription medications, such as antipsychotics, to treat the underlying condition. Because psychosis may sometimes be linked to other mental health conditions, including mood disorders like depression, other medications like antidepressants and mood stabilizers may also be recommended. 

Finding support for a mental illness

Experiencing psychosis or other mental disorders can be challenging without help. You might consider working with a licensed therapist online to treat psychotic disorders through a virtual teletherapy platform like BetterHelp. While in-person treatment can be best during the acute phase of psychosis, online therapy may be helpful during the recovery phase. It can make it simple to avail of care and support from any location at a time that fits your schedule.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is often one of the most effective treatments for mental health disorders. Studies generally suggest that it can be as effective as in-person therapy when it comes to treating a variety of psychiatric concerns.