What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a mental health condition that can cause disruptions to a person’s thoughts and perceptions, making it challenging for them to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t. These disruptions may manifest as experiencing things that aren’t real, such as seeing, hearing, or believing things that don’t exist, or having unusual and persistent thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
What Are the Symptoms of Psychosis?
Symptoms of psychosis may include:
Hallucinations: hearing, seeing, feeling, or smelling things that others do not
Delusions: persistent and irrational beliefs that are contrary to reality and cannot be corrected by reason or evidence
Disorganized thinking and speech, which can make it difficult for others to understand
Disorganized behavior or difficulty with goal-directed activities, such as work or personal hygiene
Lack of motivation or emotion, or inappropriate emotional responses
Social withdrawal or isolation
Decreased ability to concentrate or think clearly.
How Is Psychosis Treated?
Dr. Chen provides treatment for psychosis that involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. To diagnose and treat his patients, he conducts a full psychiatric assessment that is customized to each patient's individual needs. Dr. Chen's treatment plan is based on the patient's specific diagnosis and severity of symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for the best chance of recovery. Studies have shown that the sooner someone experiencing psychosis receives treatment, the better their long-term quality of life is likely to be.