Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
Psychotic symptoms may include:
- Disorganized thought and speech
- False beliefs that are not based in reality (delusions), especially unfounded fear or suspicion
- Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there (
hallucinations ) - Thoughts that "jump" between unrelated topics (disordered thinking)
Signs and tests
Psychiatric evaluation and testing are used to diagnose the cause of the psychosis.
Laboratory testing and brain scans may not be needed, but sometimes can help pinpoint the diagnosis. Tests may include:
- Blood tests for abnormal
electrolyte and hormone levels - Blood tests for
syphilis and other infections - Drug screens
-
MRI of the brain
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Psychosis Treatment
Review Date: 02/07/2010
Reviewed By: David B. Merrill, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry,
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New
York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
