It’s no surprise that psychotic disorders are becoming more and more common these days. It’s not depression alone that hits people now, many are struggling with psychotic disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
In this article today, I’m going to highlight three of the most common psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance-induced psychosis. Let’s check out their prevalence, spreading rate, symptoms, and treatment options:
Bipolar Disorder
Starting with bipolar disorder; it is often confused with mood disorders due to the presence of mood symptoms. However, in reality, it’s a psychotic disorder that manifests in three different episodes, mania, hypomania, and major depressive episode.
According to statistics, approximately 2.8% of the American population is suffering from bipolar disorder. It is further said that bipolar disorder is more common among men than women.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
- Racing thoughts and distractibility
- Unusual talkativeness
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Exaggerated confidence or sense of self
- Increased agitation, energy, or activity
- Abnormally jumpy or upbeat behavior
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
- Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers
- Antidepressants for major depressive episode
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECT)
- Herbs and plants, including passionflower and CBD-infused products
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is the most severe mental health disorder. It’s a psychotic disorder that requires lifelong treatment. Sadly, the number of schizophrenia cases is increasing and it’s becoming more common by the day.
As mentioned by the World Health Organization, more than 20 million people from around the world have schizophrenia. It affects people from all age groups and gender. Thankfully, it is rarely found in children younger than age 12.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
- Extremely disorganized or catatonic behavior
- Inhibited attitude and speech issues
- Auditory and visual hallucinations
- Bizarre delusions and agitation
- An absence of a sense of self
- Trouble concentrating and poor decision-making skills
Treatment of Schizophrenia
- First and second-generation antipsychotics
- Antidepressants and benzodiazepines
- Vocational rehabilitation and supported employment
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECT)
- Social skills training and family-focused therapy
Substance-Induced Psychosis
As you know, many people are into synthetic, recreational drugs these days. What they fail to realize is that these chemical-based drugs are not only harmful to their physical health but mental well-being as well.
Long-term use of drugs like crystal meth and cocaine often leads to substance-induced psychosis that can affect your life adversely. It is also validated by the National Institute of Mental Health where a study concluded that 27.8-79.6% of cocaine and amphetamine users as well as heroin snorters met the criteria of substance-induced psychosis.
Symptoms of Substance-Induced Psychosis
- Delusions like you’re being monitored
- Auditory, visual, and tactile hallucinations
- Panic attacks and paranoia
- Sadness, worthlessness, and low energy
- Anti-social, strange, and possibly dangerous behavior
Treatment of Substance-Induced Psychosis
- Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Inpatient rehabilitation for drug or alcohol use
- Social skills training and family therapy
- Lifestyle rehabilitation, including exercise and meditation
The Takeaway
Having a psychotic illness can be life-changing for everyone. Needless to say, psychotic disorders are severe and they must not be taken lightly. I hope the details mentioned above were enlightening. Good luck, guys!
