Psychosis is a mental disorder that is often misinterpreted in the wider media. We see ‘psychopaths’ or serial killers regularly on TV and in movies and therefore presume that all individuals with psychosis are axe-welding murders who are only found in asylums and other dark places. This is of course not true. Psychosis is described as a complete loss of reality and can occur in all types of individuals. For some they may experience just a brief episode of psychosis but for others, they may experience a form of the disorder indefinitely.
A number of factors can contribute to the development of psychosis. These include stress, drug-taking, and biological make-up. Psychosis can be treated and like everything else, prognosis is better the earlier that treatment occurs. Often treatment is made up of medication and psychotherapeutic components.
For further information regarding psychosis and how it is treated, please see here.
Ms. Niamh Allen, M.A. B.Sc.