"Psychosis" often is taken for "schizophrenia". In fact "psychosis" means a severe distortion of psychic functions. Depending on symptoms and gradient sometimes thinking, sometimes affection or perception is impaired primarily (and most).
Psychotic states can be inflicted somatically as well. Then they are called organic delusions and hallucinations:
Use of psychotropic substances i.e. (alcohol, cocaine, halluzinogenic agents) can be a cause for organic delusions and hallucinations as well as head injuries (frequent: traffic accidents) or systemic somatic diseases, which inflict temporary or permanent damage to the brain.
Psychoses can be differentiated into
- schizophrenic disorders,
- bipolar affective disorders (former "manic-depressive illness")
- schizoaffektive disorders (a mixture of both, so to speak).
Reasons for psychoses are not entirely clarified. It was hoped to reveal the mechanism by decoding the genetic code (DNA), suggesting that psychoses are genetically generated. So far these expectations have not been met. Current approach is based on multifactorial influences.
To conceive its complexity the "vulnerability-stress-coping-model" was created to reflect the various factors involved.
Basically this model can be applied to all mental disorders. It was developed for schizophrenia but works with every disorder occurring.
Medication is inevtiable. Psychopharmacological treatment often is needed to
regain the ability to concentrate and hold a conversation. Furthermore it reduces
productive symptoms (i.e. hearing voices, depressive delusions) or helps to avoid
suicidal constriction.
Psychotherapy is essential as well. Its use is to establish confidence,
accompany the medical treatment and work on necessary changes to regain independence.
Along with medical treatment social psychiatric approaches and psychotherapy are the three footings every qualified therapy should be based on.
