Types of psychosis

Psychosis is a symptom pattern that shows up in several different conditions.

Primary psychotic disorders

• Schizophrenia: symptoms lasting at least 6 months, with hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking and often reduced motivation and emotion
• Schizophreniform disorder: similar to schizophrenia, lasting 1 to 6 months
• Schizoaffective disorder: psychosis together with prolonged mood episodes
• Brief psychotic disorder: lasts less than a month, often after severe stress
• Delusional disorder: persistent delusions without other marked symptoms, and functioning is often preserved

Mood-related psychosis

• Bipolar disorder with psychotic features, during mania or depression
• Major depression with psychotic features

Psychosis linked to other causes

• Substance-induced psychosis: due to drugs or alcohol, or withdrawal
• Psychosis due to a medical condition: such as infection, brain disease, epilepsy or thyroid illness
• Medicine-induced psychosis
• Postpartum psychosis: a rare emergency after birth, usually within weeks

Related states

• Delirium: sudden confusion from illness, with fluctuating alertness. It is a medical emergency, especially in older adults.
• Dementia-related psychosis

Ayurvedic view (interpretive)

Traditional texts divide Unmada by dosha, such as Vataja, Pittaja and Kaphaja. This is a conceptual comparison and does not map onto modern diagnoses.

When to get help

A psychiatrist can tell which type applies, because treatment differs.

Remember

Psychosis can have psychiatric, substance or medical causes. The correct diagnosis guides treatment.