Psychosis Basics
This mental state involves difficulty distinguishing reality from internal thoughts, perceptions, or beliefs.
Psychosis
Clear thinking, accurate perception, logical communication, and good functioning represent this type of neurobiological response.
A healthy neurobiological response
This theory focuses on genetics, brain development, neurotransmitters, and family history.
Biological or genetic theory
Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech are examples of this symptom group.
Positive symptoms
“I do not hear the voices, but I believe they are real to you” is an example of this type of communication.
Therapeutic communication
These sensory perceptions occur without an external stimulus.
Hallucinations
Social withdrawal, declining grades, suspiciousness, poor hygiene, and talking to self may be early signs of psychosis in this age group.
Adolescents
This theory suggests symptoms emerge when stress exceeds the coping ability of a person with vulnerability.
Stress-vulnerability theory
Flat affect, low motivation, social withdrawal, poverty of speech, and poor hygiene are examples of this symptom group.
This is what the nurse should avoid doing when a client expresses a delusion.
Arguing with or reinforcing the delusion
These sensory perceptions occur without an external stimulus.
Delusions
Developmental regression, bizarre play, odd speech, and unusual fears may suggest psychosis in this age group.
Children
Delusions, auditory hallucinations, suspiciousness, and persecution beliefs are most associated with this classic subtype.
Paranoid schizophrenia
Difficulty with attention, memory, planning, and problem-solving are examples of this symptom group.
Cognitive symptoms
Acute dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia are examples of these side effects.
Extraptyramidal symptoms
This is the key difference between psychosis and many other mental health disorders.
Impaired reality testing
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, poor self-care, and impaired work functioning may be seen in this age group.
Adults
Disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, inappropriate affect, and poor hygiene are associated with this classic subtype.
Disorganized schizophrenia
Haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and aripiprazole belong to this medication class.
Antipsychotics
High fever, severe muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic instability suggest this rare but life-threatening reaction.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
This is the key difference between psychosis and many other mental health disorders.
A command hallucination
This is why adolescent psychosis may be missed early.
Symptoms may be mistaken for typical adolescent behavior
Motor immobility, mutism, waxy flexibility, negativism, echolalia, or echopraxia are associated with this classic subtype.
Catatonic schizophrenia
Family psychoeducation, social skills training, CBT for psychosis, case management, and supported employment are examples of these.
Psychosocial therapies
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia says, “The voices are telling me I must hurt myself tonight.” The nurse stays with the client, assesses the content of the voices, removes hazards, and notifies the treatment team immediately.
Priority nursing care for command hallucinations and suicide risk