When can we say that a person is “crazy”? How do we define insanity? There are many definitions given in this regard and there are also many different views on the phenomenon of madness. In this article, we will represent you through brief psychotic disorder.
Traditionally, in psychiatry the main groups of disorders are divided into two: psychotic disorders and neurotic disorders. In general, we can define madness as a psychotic state.
- Psychosis or psychotic states imply a loss of contact with reality manifested in delusions and/or hallucinations.
- On the contrary.
- Neuroses or neurotic states do not imply a loss of contact with reality.
- Examples of neurotic disorders would be depression and anxiety.
- And classic examples of psychosis would be schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Talking about a psychotic disorder, such as a brief psychotic disorder, is talking about its manifestations or symptoms. In short, psychotic disorder, there are two types of changes in the perception of reality: delusions and hallucinations.
When we talk about delusions we mean fixed beliefs that are not sensitive to reality, to evidence against it, etymologically, the word delirium is derived from the Latin term delirare which means leaving the plow groove, applied to thought would be something like ‘thinking out of the ordinary’.
In the unholy sense, delirium means “madness, having reason troubled”. In the usual language, delirium is practically synonymous with madness, irrationality, madness or loss of reality.
In order to identify an illusion as such, account must be taken of the extent to which the experience corresponds to the following points:
In short, delusions are characterized by their conceptual complexity and perhaps that is why it is so difficult to stop them in a definition. A classic example of delirium would be the one who is convinced that he is being monitored or controlled by hidden chambers, or the one believed to be Napoleon, or who thinks he has the divine mission of saving the world from destruction.
Hallucinations are perceptions that occur in the presence of an external stimulus, are clear and clear, with all the strength and impact of normal perceptions and are not subject to voluntary control.
Hallucinations can occur in any sensory modality, but auditory hallucinations are more common in short psychotic disorders and schizophrenia. These hallucinations usually occur in the form of voices, known or unknown, that are perceived as different from thought itself.
Classic examples of hallucinations can be identified in people who hear voices telling them they need to complete a mission or those who see small animals crawling in their arms.
The essential characteristic of a brief psychotic disorder is an alteration involving the sudden onset of at least one of the following psychotic symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or speech, or very abnormal psychomotor behavior, including catatonia. neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by motor abnormalities associated with changes in consciousness, affection and thinking.
Seizures can occur, but they are more common when the cause is organic. In the end (in organic and psychiatric cases), catatonia would have its origin in lateral orbital cortex dysfunction.
The sudden onset of a brief psychotic disorder occurs with the transition from a non-psychotic state to a clearly psychotic state in 2 weeks. An episode of the disorder lasts at least 1 day, but less than a month, and the individual returns completely to the level of functioning he had before the disorder.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), for a person to be diagnosed with a short psychotic disorder, the following criteria must be met:
A. Presence of one (or more) of the following symptoms, at least one of them should be (1), (2) or (3):
B. La duration of an episode of disorder is at least one day and less than one month, with a total final return to the previous degree of functioning of the disease.
C. The disorder cannot be explained as a depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic characteristics or another psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or catatonia, and cannot be attributed to the physiological effects of a substance (p. E. g. , a drug or medication) or other medical problem. .
As we have seen, a person with a brief psychotic disorder quickly moves from a state of “normality” to a psychotic state, almost without warning. This state of Madness? It lasts between a day and a month (never again). Finally, the person fully recovers or returns to their normal level.
Differences in schizophrenia are clear. In schizophrenia, the ongoing signs of the disorder persist for at least six months and usually change?Madness? It’s not that fast, it’s more gradual. The course of schizophrenia is usually chronic, while short psychotic disorder is usually resolved or “cured. “
People with a brief psychotic disorder often experience an emotional disorder or great confusion. They can quickly change from one intense state to another. Although the disorder is brief, the degree of dysfunction in the period when symptoms are present can be significant.
It may require follow-up so that nutritional and hygienic needs are met and the person is protected from the consequences of poor judgment, cognitive dysfunction and delusional actions. On the other hand, during a brief psychotic disorder, there appears to be an increased risk of suicidal behavior, especially during an acute episode, in this case it is essential to take safety measures to prevent the affected person from being injured
Pharmacological treatment is the main intervention of psychosis, but treatment during the initial phase should not be based solely on it. Psychosocial interventions and psychological therapy are very important in the recovery process.
These interventions include a number of measures aimed at minimizing the patient’s vulnerability to stressful situations, facilitating recovery processes, strengthening family, social and work training, and increasing resources to address interpersonal or re-identification conflicts, problems and tensions.
As we have seen, a brief psychotic disorder can have important consequences for people with it, as well as damaging family and personal relationships, so treatment by a qualified professional is essential.