Schizophrenia and psychosis differences. How to distinguish schizophrenia from psychosis? Neurobiology of psychosis: the central role of dopamine

Paranoid schizophrenic psychosis and schizophrenia - various diseases with similar symptoms. People far from medicine often confuse these pathologies. Difficulties in diagnosis often arise among psychiatrists. When examining a patient, it is necessary to take into account the differences between psychosis and schizophrenia.

How does psychosis differ from schizophrenia?

The differences between schizophrenia and psychosis are following signs:

1. Type delusional disorder. For personality disorder intrusive thoughts have a changeable character. In psychosis, the paranoid syndrome is stable, it cannot be developed and does not depend on the influence of provoking factors.
2. Presence of hallucinations. The appearance of such a symptom is not typical for paranoia. People with schizophrenia often experience visual or auditory hallucinations.
3. Time of appearance of the first symptoms. Schizophrenia can debut at any age. Psychosis most often develops in young patients.
4. Apathy and automatism. Such signs are detected in schizophrenics; in patients suffering from psychosis, such symptoms are absent.

Causes and symptoms of schizophrenic psychosis

The reasons for the development of paranoia accompanied by psychosis include:

• infectious diseases (tuberculosis, typhoid, syphilis, respiratory infections);
• poisoning of the body with industrial poisons;
• systematic use of alcohol;
• neurological diseases(brain tumors, atherosclerosis cerebral vessels, encephalopathy);
• hormonal disorders(hyperthyroidism, increased activity adrenal glands);
• age-related hypertensive changes in cerebral vessels;
• mental trauma (violence or criminal attack);
• a loss loved one, family problems.

Psychosis in schizophrenia during an attack is accompanied by the appearance the following symptoms:

1. Crazy ideas. They completely capture the patient’s consciousness, which makes it impossible to convince him. Most often, persecution mania or hypochondria (thoughts about an incurable illness) are observed. Sometimes delusions of grandeur arise.
2. Impaired motor functions. The patient is able to sit in one position for several hours without reacting to external stimuli. Another symptom of the disease is motor agitation, in which the patient continuously performs the same type of actions and performs unmotivated actions.
3. Changes in mood. The feeling of apathy quickly gives way to aggression. Depression is recognized by depression, low mood and melancholy. Suicidal thoughts often occur.
4. Manic syndrome. It manifests itself as an unreasonable rise in mood, acceleration of movements and thinking. Speech disturbances are often observed.
5. Changes in behavior. A person loses the ability to adequately perceive the world around him. Patients often resist hospitalization and treatment.

During the period of remission, the above symptoms are absent or present weak degree expressiveness.

Treatment of the disorder

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine exactly what the patient suffers from: schizophrenia or psychosis. In the latter case, the therapeutic regimen includes following methods:

1. Drug therapy. Antidepressants (Amitriptyline), antipsychotics (Chlorpromazine) and tranquilizers (Phenazepam) are prescribed. Medicines must be used under the supervision of a physician.
2. Psychotherapeutic techniques. Increases the effectiveness of medications, accelerating the healing process. During treatment, the doctor tries to find contact with the patient and instill in him thoughts about the need to take medications. Training programs help to develop an adequate perception of the world around us, learn to communicate with people and get rid of anxious thoughts.
3. Physiotherapeutic procedures. They have restorative and relaxing effects. The most effective are: physiotherapy, acupuncture, electrosleep and Spa treatment. If necessary, electroconvulsive therapy is prescribed, affecting certain areas of the brain.

Timely initiation of treatment increases the chances of recovery.

Schizophrenic psychoses A group of psychoses in which there is a deep personality disorder, a characteristic distortion of thinking, often a feeling of being influenced by extraneous forces, delusions, often of bizarre content, impaired perception, pathological affects, inadequate to the real situation, and autism. However, clear consciousness and intellectual abilities are usually maintained. Personality disorder affects the most essential functions of personality, which provide healthy person consciousness of his individuality, uniqueness and his own life direction. It often seems to the patient that the most intimate thoughts, feelings and actions are known or shared by other people; in this case, delusional interpretations may develop, creating in the patient the idea that natural or supernatural forces influence his thoughts and actions as a person with schizophrenia in ways that are often bizarre. The patient may feel like the center of all events. Hallucinations are typical, especially auditory ones, which can comment on the patient’s actions or be addressed to him. Perception is often impaired in other ways as well; confusion may be observed, unimportant events become special significance and in combination with emotional passivity, this can lead the patient to believe that ordinary objects and everyday situations have a special, usually sinister, meaning for him. With the disorder of thinking characteristic of schizophrenia, secondary and insignificant elements of what is happening, which are normally inhibited, come to the fore and take the place of truly significant elements and situations. Thus, thinking becomes foggy, vague, important details slip away from it, and its verbal expression sometimes becomes incomprehensible. There are often breaks and insertions in the sequential thought process, and the patient may have the belief that his thoughts are extracted as a result of some extraneous influence. The mood may be unstable, moody or ridiculous. Ambivalence and violation of will can manifest themselves in the form of inertia, negativism or stupor. Sometimes catatonia occurs.

Brief explanatory psychological and psychiatric dictionary. Ed. igisheva. 2008.

See what “Schizophrenic psychoses” are in other dictionaries:

List of ICD-9 codes- This article should be Wikified. Please format it according to the article formatting rules. Transition table: from ICD 9 (chapter V, Mental disorders) to ICD 10 (section V, Mental disorders) (adapted Russian version) ... ... Wikipedia

psychosis- a, m. psychose f. gr. psyche soul. A painful condition associated with brain damage and leading to mental disorders. Manic depressive psychosis. Schizophrenic psychoses. ALS 1. It was one of the most severe... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Reactions- In psychiatry: pathological changes mental activity in response to mental trauma or unfavorable circumstances life situation. In their origin important role factors of constitutional predisposition, characteristics play a role... ... Dictionary psychiatric terms

Differentiation of acute and transient psychotic disorders (F23.-) from schizophrenia (F20.-)- In ICD 10, the diagnosis of schizophrenia depends on the presence typical symptoms delusions, hallucinations and others listed in section F20. , and a period of 1 month is defined as the minimum duration of symptoms. In a number of countries, strong clinical... ... Classification of mental disorders ICD-10. Clinical descriptions and diagnostic instructions. Research diagnostic criteria

It is appropriate to divide it into two subtopics:

1. The first psychotic episode, with the development of which often begins treatment and is first diagnosed.
2. Exacerbations (relapses) of an already diagnosed disease.

It cannot be said that the first acute episode in schizophrenia always occurs suddenly and out of nowhere. They often manifest themselves with varying degrees of severity in the prodromal (preceding the disease) period. They are not always recognized as signs of schizophrenia, and therefore, most often, relatives of the patient seek help at the moment when the condition becomes acute. Although, as Eugen Bleuler rightly noted at the beginning of the last century, by tracing the history of the development of the disease of a patient admitted for the first time, one can almost always find mildly expressed symptoms of schizophrenia in it. These are the so-called negative symptoms. Compared to delusions and hallucinations, which quickly attract attention, negative symptoms are less noticeable, but more dangerous and much less treatable

Based on the first acute episode of schizophrenia, it can be very difficult to predict the prognosis of the disease. However, the entire future prognosis of the disease depends on the quality of timely care. As a rule, the duration of the acute phase of schizophrenia lasts 6-8 weeks.

Signs of the acute phase of schizophrenia:

• strange, incomprehensible to others human behavior;
• delusions, hallucinations (usually auditory),
• the patient can “hear voices”: as a rule, they first comment on his actions, and as the disease develops and schizophrenia worsens, they can become more and more aggressive and begin to order and control the person;
• the patient can feel someone's influence on his own thoughts;
• irritability, withdrawal,
• trying to understand what is happening to him, a person plunges into the world of internal experiences;
• there is a feeling of confusion and helplessness.

Despite the fact that some experts talk about the possibility of stopping the first psychotic episode in schizophrenia at home, we insist, taking into account all the significance (as a thorough diagnostic examination, and a full course of treatment), on the need to place the patient in a hospital.

Acute psychosis is incredibly difficult, and often dangerous, to stop and treat at home. Often the patient’s condition can pose a threat to both himself and the people around him. Only full treatment in a hospital can give a positive, lasting result.

It is noted that every fifth patient after the first episode does not experience an exacerbation of schizophrenia in later life. Between the first and second episodes, the manifestations of the disease may not be very noticeable. Only a small percentage of patients develop symptoms of schizophrenia over many years.

Relapse of schizophrenia occurs in 20% of patients, even despite treatment. If treatment is not prescribed, the probability of relapse is 70%.

First signs of relapse

Timely treatment acute attacks schizophrenia has a very great importance For further forecast diseases. Timely relief of an incipient attack is also very important, since every next case exacerbation, alas, is more severe than the previous one, is longer lasting and can aggravate the patient’s condition.

At the first signs of exacerbation of schizophrenia, it is necessary to provide the patient with high-quality and immediate medical care. If the patient’s condition is already difficult to control, and you can independently reach medical institution he cannot, he must immediately call an ambulance for psychiatric help.

Schizophrenia PET scan http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2002/nimh-28.htm

Schizophrenia vs psychosis

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders The American Psychiatric Association is the bible for deciding which symptoms qualify for medical diagnosis. DSM-IV-TR has given precise criteria that must be met by patients to be diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety neurosis, etc. DSM defines schizophrenia as a disorder characterized by disturbance thought process, poor emotional responsiveness, distorted perceptions and disorganized speech. A person must conform following criteria DSM-IV who should be classified as schizophrenic-

1. Signs for at least 6 months continuously and symptoms for at least a month.
2. Significant impact on social interaction and occupation.
3. 2 or more of the following symptoms on most days of the month - hallucinations, disorganized speech, delusions, poor emotional response, poor speech, lack of motivated activity.

Psychosis is essentially a broad term for symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. Examination of all possible physical disorders, mental disorders and side effects drugs or medications using a careful history, clinical examination, blood tests, and imaging procedures leads to a diagnosis of psychosis. Technically speaking, psychosis involves a disturbance in the perception of reality.

The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but environmental factors along with genetics are believed to lead to this thought disorder. The dopamine theory says that a lack of dopamine due to contraction of certain parts of the brain is responsible for schizophrenia. Accurate proof for this is not available. Psychosis can be caused by many drugs such as alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, brain tumors/cysts, stroke, epilepsy, HIV affecting the brain, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, etc.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include positive symptoms such as hallucinations, crazy ideas, disorganized thoughts and speech, and negative symptoms such as anhedonia (lack of desire to do things to be happy), absent or weak emotional responses to people and situations, social care, appearance and hygiene, lack of judgment and poverty of motivation. There are 5 subtypes of schizophrenia - paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated and residual. Psychosis is part of schizophrenia, but not vice versa. Hallucinations and delusions are the main symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia, this is just one of the possible reasons this.

The diagnosis of schizophrenia is made according to the criteria outlined above. Blood tests and imaging can only be used to rule out others medical conditions, the use of drugs that can mimic the symptoms of schizophrenia. Likewise, psychosis is a diagnosis of exclusion of other diseases.

Treatment for both schizophrenia and psychosis uses antipsychotic drugs, such as risperidone, clozapine, etc. Additionally, social interventions such as family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and community-based care may help in reducing social withdrawal and occupational dysfunction of schizophrenia. Treatment for psychosis involves addressing any drug abuse and treating the physical condition that may be causing mental symptoms.

Take home pointers: Psychosis is a psychiatric condition manifested by impaired thought and perception, hallucinations and delusions. Schizophrenia is mental illness, characterized by psychosis, as well as negative symptoms such as lack of motivation and need for pleasure, lack of emotion and judgment, disorganization of thought and behavior.

The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Psychosis can occur due to alcohol, drugs, illnesses such as hypothyroidism, mania, etc.

Diagnosis of both cases consists of excluding physical conditions, drug abuse, etc. using blood tests, imaging procedures, and DSM-IV criteria.

Schizophrenia is incurable but manageable using antipsychotic medications and help from family and community. Treatment for psychosis depends on the cause.

If you feel you are suffering from psychosis or schizophrenia it is very important that you apply for medical care With early detection, you will have a higher chance of leading a fulfilling life.

Schizophrenia is a disease belonging to the group of endogenous psychoses, since its causes are caused by various changes in the functioning of the body, that is, they are not associated with any external factors. This means that the symptoms of schizophrenia do not arise in response to external stimuli (as with neuroses, hysteria, psychological complexes, etc.), but on their own. It is in this cardinal difference schizophrenia from other mental disorders.

At its core it is chronic illness, in which a disorder of thinking and perception of any phenomena in the surrounding world develops against the background of a preserved level of intelligence. That is, a person with schizophrenia is not necessarily mentally retarded; his intelligence, like that of all other people, can be low, medium, high, and even very high. Moreover, in history there are many examples of brilliant people who suffered from schizophrenia, for example, Bobby Fischer - world chess champion, mathematician John Nash, who received Nobel Prize etc. The story of John Nash's life and illness was brilliantly told in the film A Beautiful Mind.

That is, schizophrenia is not dementia and a simple abnormality, but a specific, completely special disorder thinking and perception. The term “schizophrenia” itself consists of two words: schizo - to split and phrenia - mind, reason. The final translation of the term into Russian may sound like “split consciousness” or “split consciousness.” That is, schizophrenia is when a person has normal memory and intelligence, all his senses (vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch) work correctly, even the brain perceives all information about environment as needed, but the consciousness (cerebral cortex) processes all this data incorrectly.

For example, human eyes see green leaves of trees. This picture is transmitted to the brain, assimilated by it and transmitted to the cortex, where the process of understanding the information received occurs. As a result, a normal person, having received information about green leaves on a tree, will comprehend it and conclude that the tree is alive, it’s summer outside, there’s shadow under the crown, etc. And with schizophrenia, a person is not able to comprehend information about green leaves on a tree, in accordance with the normal laws characteristic of our world. This means that when he sees green leaves, he will think that someone is painting them, or that this is some kind of signal for aliens, or that he needs to pick them all, etc. Thus, it is obvious that in schizophrenia there is a disorder of consciousness, which is not able to form an objective picture from the available information based on the laws of our world. As a result, a person has a distorted picture of the world, created precisely by his consciousness from the initially correct signals received by the brain from the senses.

It is precisely because of such a specific disorder of consciousness, when a person has both knowledge, ideas, and correct information from the senses, but the final conclusion was made with the chaotic use of its functionalities, the disease was called schizophrenia, that is, splitting of consciousness.

Schizophrenia - symptoms and signs

Indicating the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, we will not just list them, but also explain in detail, including with examples, what exactly is meant by this or that formulation, since for a person far from psychiatry, it is the correct understanding of the specific terms used to designate symptoms is cornerstone to get an adequate idea of ​​the subject of conversation.

First, you should know that schizophrenia has symptoms and signs. Symptoms mean strictly defined manifestations characteristic of the disease, such as delusions, hallucinations, etc. And signs of schizophrenia are considered to be four areas of human brain activity in which there are disturbances.

Signs of schizophrenia

So, the signs of schizophrenia include the following effects (Bleuler tetrad, four A):

Associative defect - expressed in the absence logical thinking in the direction of any final goal of reasoning or dialogue, as well as in the resulting poverty of speech, in which there are no additional, spontaneous components. Currently, this effect is briefly called alogia. Let's look at this effect with an example in order to clearly understand what psychiatrists mean by this term.

So, imagine that a woman is riding on a trolleybus and a friend of hers gets on at one of the stops. A conversation ensues. One of the women asks the other: “Where are you going?” The second one answers: “I want to visit my sister, she’s a little sick, I’m going to visit her.” This is an example answer normal person who does not suffer from schizophrenia. IN in this case, in the second woman’s response, the phrases “I want to visit my sister” and “she’s a little sick” are examples of additional spontaneous components of speech that were said in accordance with the logic of the discussion. That is, the only answer to the question of where she is going is the “to her sister” part. But the woman, logically thinking through other questions of the discussion, immediately answers why she is going to see her sister (“I want to visit because she is sick”).

If the second woman to whom the question was addressed were schizophrenic, then the dialogue would be as follows:
- Where are you driving?
- To Sister.
- For what?
- I want to visit.
- Did something happen to her or just like that?
- It happened.
- What's happened? Something serious?
- I got sick.

Such dialogue with monosyllabic and undeveloped answers is typical for the participants in the discussion, one of whom has schizophrenia. That is, with schizophrenia, a person does not think out the following possible questions in accordance with the logic of the discussion and does not answer them immediately in one sentence, as if ahead of them, but gives monosyllabic answers that require further numerous clarifications.

Autism– is expressed in distraction from the real world around us and immersion in our inner world. A person’s interests are sharply limited, he performs the same actions and does not respond to various stimuli from the surrounding world. In addition, the person does not interact with others and is not able to build normal communication.

Ambivalence – is expressed in the presence of completely opposite opinions, experiences and feelings regarding the same subject or object. For example, with schizophrenia, a person can simultaneously love and hate ice cream, running, etc.

Depending on the nature of ambivalence, three types are distinguished: emotional, volitional and intellectual. Thus, emotional ambivalence is expressed in the simultaneous presence of opposite feelings towards people, events or objects (for example, parents can love and hate children, etc.). Volitional ambivalence is expressed in the presence of endless hesitation when it is necessary to make a choice. Intellectual ambivalence is the presence of diametrically opposed and mutually exclusive ideas.

Affective inadequacy – is expressed in a completely inadequate reaction to various events and actions. For example, when a person sees someone drowning, he laughs, and when he receives some good news, he cries, etc. In general, affect is the external expression of the internal experience of mood. Respectively, affective disorders– these are not corresponding to internal sensory experiences (fear, joy, sadness, pain, happiness, etc.) external manifestations, such as: laughter in response to the experience of fear, fun in grief, etc.

Data pathological effects are signs of schizophrenia and cause changes in the personality of a person who becomes unsociable, withdrawn, loses interest in objects or events that previously worried him, commits ridiculous acts, etc. In addition, a person may develop new hobbies that were previously completely atypical for him. As a rule, such new hobbies in schizophrenia become philosophical or orthodox religious teachings, fanaticism in following any idea (for example, vegetarianism, etc.). As a result of personality restructuring, a person’s performance and degree of socialization are significantly reduced.

In addition to these signs, there are also symptoms of schizophrenia, which include single manifestations of the disease. The entire set of symptoms of schizophrenia is divided into the following large groups:

• Positive (productive) symptoms;
• Negative (deficient) symptoms;
• Disorganized (cognitive) symptoms;
• Affective (mood) symptoms.

Curative treatment should begin before the development of complete clinical picture, already when the harbingers of psychosis appear, since in this case it will be shorter and more effective, and in addition, the severity of personality changes against the background negative symptoms will also be minimal, which will allow a person to work or do any household chores. Hospitalization in a hospital is necessary only for the period of relief of the attack; all other stages of therapy can be carried out on an outpatient basis, that is, at home. However, if it is possible to achieve long-term remission, then once a year the person should still be hospitalized in a hospital for examination and correction of maintenance anti-relapse therapy.

After an attack of schizophrenia, treatment lasts at least a year, since it will take from 4 to 10 weeks to completely relieve psychosis, another 6 months to stabilize the achieved effect, and 5 to 8 months to form a stable remission. Therefore, close people or guardians of a patient with schizophrenia need to be mentally prepared for such long-term treatment necessary for the formation of stable remission. In the future, the patient must take medications and undergo other courses of treatment aimed at preventing another relapse of an attack of psychosis.

Schizophrenia - treatment methods (treatment methods)

The entire range of treatment methods for schizophrenia is divided into two large groups:
1. Biological methods , which include all medical manipulations, procedures and medications such as:

• Reception medicines, affecting the central nervous system;
• Insulin comatose therapy;
• Electroconvulsive therapy;
• Craniocerebral hypothermia;
• Lateral therapy;
• Pair polarization therapy;
• Detoxification therapy;
• Transcranial micropolarization of the brain;
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation;
• Phototherapy;
• Surgical treatment (lobotomy, leucotomy);
• Sleep deprivation.

2. Psychosocial therapy:

• Psychotherapy;
• Cognitive behavioral therapy;
• Family therapy.

Biological and social methods in the treatment of schizophrenia should complement each other, since the former can effectively eliminate productive symptoms, relieve depression and level out disorders of thinking, memory, emotions and will, and the latter are effective in returning a person to society, in teaching him basic skills practical life etc. That is why in developed countries Psychosocial therapy is considered as a mandatory necessary additional component in complex treatment schizophrenia using various biological methods. It has been shown that effective psychosocial therapy can significantly reduce the risk of relapse of schizophrenic psychosis, prolong remissions, reduce drug dosages, shorten hospital stay, and reduce the cost of patient care.

However, despite the importance of psychosocial therapy, biological methods remain the main ones in the treatment of schizophrenia, since only they make it possible to stop psychosis, eliminate disturbances in thinking, emotions, and will, and achieve stable remission, during which a person can lead a normal life. Let us consider the characteristics, as well as the rules for the use of methods of treating schizophrenia, adopted at international congresses and recorded in the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Currently the most important and effective biological method The treatment of schizophrenia are medications (psychopharmacology). Therefore, we will dwell on their classifications and rules of application in detail.

Modern treatment of schizophrenia during an attack

When a person begins an attack of schizophrenia (psychosis), you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, who will begin the necessary relief treatment. Currently, various drugs from the group of neuroleptics (antipsychotics) are primarily used to relieve psychosis.

Most effective drugs The first line for relief therapy of schizophrenic psychosis are atypical antipsychotics, since they are able to eliminate productive symptoms (delusions and hallucinations) and, at the same time, minimize disturbances in speech, thinking, emotions, memory, will, facial expressions and behavior patterns. That is, drugs in this group can not only stop the productive symptoms of schizophrenia, but also eliminate the negative symptoms of the disease, which is very important for the rehabilitation of a person and maintaining him in a state of remission. In addition, atypical antipsychotics are effective in cases where a person cannot tolerate other antipsychotics or is resistant to their effects.

Treatment of psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, illusions and other productive symptoms)

So, the treatment of a psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, illusions and other productive symptoms) is carried out with atypical antipsychotics, taking into account in which clinical picture each drug is most effective. Other antipsychotic drugs are prescribed only when atypical antipsychotics are ineffective.

Most a strong drug group is Olanzapine, which can be prescribed to all patients with schizophrenia during an attack.

Amisulpride and Risperidone are most effective in suppressing delusions and hallucinations associated with depression and severe negative symptoms. Therefore, this drug is used to relieve repeated episodes of psychosis.

Quetiapine is prescribed for hallucinations and delusions combined with speech disorders, manic behavior and strong psychomotor agitation.

If Olanzapine, Amisulpride, Risperidone or Quetiapine are ineffective, then they are replaced with conventional antipsychotics, which are effective for prolonged psychoses, as well as for poorly treatable catatonic, hebephrenic and undifferentiated forms of schizophrenia.

Majeptyl is the most effective means for catatonic and hebephrenic schizophrenia, and Trisedil for paranoid schizophrenia.

If Majeptil or Trisedil are ineffective, or the person cannot tolerate them, then conventional neuroleptics with selective action are used to relieve productive symptoms, the main representative of which is Haloperidol. Haloperidol suppresses speech hallucinations, automatisms, and all types of delusions.

Triftazin is used for unsystematized delirium due to paranoid schizophrenia. For systematized delirium, Meterazine is used. Moditene is used for paranoid schizophrenia with severe negative symptoms (impaired speech, emotions, will, thinking).

In addition to atypical antipsychotics and conventional neuroleptics, atypical neuroleptics are used in the treatment of psychosis in schizophrenia, which in their properties occupy an intermediate position between the first two indicated groups of drugs. Currently, among the atypical antipsychotics, the most actively used are Clozapine and Piportil, which are often used as first-line drugs instead of atypical antipsychotics.

All drugs for the treatment of psychosis are used for 4–8 weeks, after which the person is transferred to a maintenance dosage or replaced medicine. In addition to the main drug that relieves delusions and hallucinations, 1–2 medications can be prescribed, the action of which is aimed at suppressing psychomotor agitation.

Psychotic disorders and their types
The definition of psychosis includes pronounced manifestations of mental illness, in which the sick person’s perception and understanding of the world around him is distorted; behavioral reactions are disrupted; Various pathological syndromes and symptoms appear. Unfortunately, psychotic disorders are a common type of pathology. Statistical research show that the incidence of psychotic disorders is up to 5% of the general population.

Between the concepts of schizophrenia and psychotic disorder often put an equal sign, and this is the wrong approach to understanding nature mental disorders, because schizophrenia is a disease, and psychotic disorders are a syndrome that can accompany diseases such as senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, drug addiction, chronic alcoholism, mental retardation, epilepsy, etc.

A person may develop a transient psychotic state caused by taking certain medications or drugs; or caused by exposure to severe mental trauma (“reactive” or psychogenic psychosis). Mental trauma is stressful situation, illness, job loss, natural disasters, a threat to the lives of loved ones.

Sometimes there are so-called somatogenic psychoses (developing due to serious somatic pathology, for example, due to myocardial infarction); infectious (caused by complications after infectious disease); and intoxication (for example, delirium tremens).