MenuMedicalReferenceFeaturesSlideshows&ImagesNewsArchiveNewsReferenceSlideshowsVideosQuestions&AnswersMedicationsCrisisAssistanceFindaPsychiatristOverview&FactsSymptoms&TypesTests&DiagnosisMedication&TherapyRisks&ComplicationsSupport&ResourcesAnxiety/PanicDisordersBipolarDisorderDrugInteractionCheckerMentalHealthPsychoticDepressionSchizoaffectiveDisorderSchizophreniformDisorderSmokingCessationSchizophreniaGuideMenuReviewedbyJosephGoldberg, MDonJuly13,2019InthisArticleWhatIsPsychosis?SymptomsofPsychosisCausesofPsychosisDiagnosisMedicalTreatmentforPsychosisPsychotherapyWhatIsPsychosis?Psychosisisaconditionthataffectsthewayyourbrainprocessesinformation.Itcausesyoutolosetouchwithreality.Youmightsee,hear,orbelievethingsthataren’treal.Psychosisisasymptom,notanillness.Amentalorphysicalillness,substanceabuse,orextremestressortraumacancauseit.Psychoticdisorders,likeschizophrenia,involvepsychosisthatusuallyaffectsyouforthefirsttimeinthelateteenyearsorearlyadulthood.Youngpeopleareespeciallylikelytogetit,butdoctorsdon’tknowwhy.Evenbeforewhatdoctorscallthefirstepisodeofpsychosis(FEP),youmayshowslightchangesinthewayyouactorthink.Thisiscalledtheprodromalperiodandcouldlastdays,weeks,months,orevenyears.Sometimesyoucanlosetouchwithrealityevenwhenyoudon’thaveaprimarypsychoticillnesssuchasschizophreniaorbipolardisorder.Whenthishappens,it'scalledsecondarypsychosis.Theseepisodesstemfromsomethingelse,likedruguseoramedicalcondition.Whateverthereason,theytendtodisappearinashorttime,andtheyoftenstayawayifyoutreattheconditionthatcausedthem.SymptomsofPsychosisPsychosisdoesn’tsuddenlystart.Itusuallyfollowsthispattern:Warningsignsbeforepsychosis:Itstartswithgradualchangesinthewayyouthinkaboutandunderstandtheworld.Youoryourfamilymembersmaynotice:AdropingradesorjobperformanceTroublethinkingclearlyorconcentratingSuspiciousnessoruneasearoundothersLackofself-careorhygieneSpendingmoretimealonethanusualStrongeremotionsthansituationscallforNoemotionsatallSignsofearlypsychosis:Youmay:Hear,see,ortastethin