Schizophrenia
Psychosis Vs Schizophrenia: A Guide To Understanding The Differences
September 6, 2022
Medically Reviewed by Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Tan Sheng Neng
MMED (Psych), MBBS, MCI, FAMSSeptember 6, 2022
Some people confuse and interchange the terms psychosis and schizophrenia. However, they are two separate terms. Find out what the difference is between the two!
Psychosis Vs Schizophrenia: A Guide To Understanding The Differences
Even though psychosis and schizophrenia share numerous similarities, key differences still separate the two. A psychotic episode is characterized by non-realistic, often frightening hallucinations or delusions. Schizophrenia is characterized by psychotic episodes and disorganized thoughts, often involving bizarre delusions or paranoia. Psychosis can manifest as a symptom of schizophrenia, but not all people with schizophrenia experience psychosis. In this article, we attempt to differentiate psychosis and schizophrenia.
What Is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a condition in which the person loses touch with reality. They are unable to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. Psychotic episodes can last anywhere from around a few hours to several days.
Psychosis can occur on its own, or any specific cause can trigger it, such as:
- Side effects of certain medications (e.g., antidepressants, sedatives, sympathomimetics)
- Mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder)
- Medical diseases (e.g., brain tumor, stroke, HIV, Parkinson’s disease)
- Sleep deprivation
- Substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, cocaine)
What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a combination of symptoms that affects the thought processes, behaviors, and emotions. Unlike psychosis, schizophrenia doesn’t suddenly occur as an episode. It can take months or even years for schizophrenia to develop.
Below are the stages through which schizophrenia develops.
Prodromal Phase
This is the first phase, which develops gradually over the years. It includes losing interest in activities, social withdrawal, difficulty retaining attention, loss of motivation, or fixed concentration on a specific idea or subject.
Active Phase
Psychosis develops in this stage. It may develop gradually during the prodromal phase or appear suddenly.
Residual Phase
Symptoms are reduced and are less pronounced during this stage. However, the patient may still have problems concentrating and have social withdrawal behaviors.
Are Psychosis And Imagination The Same Thing?
Nope! Psychosis and imagination are not the same things. In imagination, the individual can draw a clear boundary between fantasy and reality. On the contrary, in psychosis, the individual can’t differentiate between what is real and what is not.
What Are The Symptoms Of Psychosis and Schizophrenia?
Before getting to the symptoms of both mental disorders, we must first understand the positive and negative symptoms.
Positive Symptoms: The addition of symptoms to the person’s experience is called positive symptoms. Some examples include hallucinations, delusions, etc.
Negative Symptoms: The subtraction of symptoms from the person’s experience is called negative symptoms. Some examples include loss of motivation, loss of emotional expression, etc.
Symptoms In Psychosis
Positive symptoms in psychosis include:
Hallucinations: A condition in which a person can hear, see or feel something that isn’t actually present and any other average person cannot experience it. Hallucinations can be further divided into three types
- Auditory hallucinations: The person may hear voices or feel someone is calling them
- Visual hallucination: The person may see things that aren’t there
- Tactile hallucinations: The person may feel that something touched them or any other strange sensation
- Delusions: Feeling that others are conspiring to kill them or they are on a special mission. They can even consider themselves to be God
Negative symptoms of psychosis include:
- Inability to feel emotions
- Abnormally strong reactions to usual stimuli
- Lack of self-care and personal hygiene
Cognitive symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Disordered thinking
- Failure to focus
Symptoms In Schizophrenia
Positive symptoms in schizophrenia include:
- Hallucinations (Visual, auditory, tactile hallucinations)
- Delusions
Negative symptoms in schizophrenia include:
- Lack of emotions
- Social withdrawal
Cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia include:
- Disorganized speech
- Restlessness
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How Can We Treat These Disorders?
When the brain is involved, treatment is not so straightforward. It varies based on different symptoms and people. The drug combination that was working for one person might not work for another person who was exhibiting the same symptoms.
Treatment For Psychosis
For the sake of simplicity, the treatment can be divided into four major groups.
- Medication: Antipsychotic medications are used to manage dopamine levels and maintain the serotonin levels of the brain
- Therapy: The most common therapy used for psychosis is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBL). The therapy can be taken individually or with a group.
- Family Support Roles: Close friends and family play a vital role in treating the condition. They can ensure that patients take their medication on time and notice any adverse effects.
- Social Support: Aid from the community at school or work can significantly help the patient to deal with their symptoms.
Treatment For Schizophrenia
Again, we can divide the treatment into four major categories.
- Medication: Antipsychotic medicines can be used to deal with the active phase of the disease. Furthermore, maintenance drugs are also used to prevent the symptoms from returning.
- Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBL) is also significantly helpful in schizophrenia. However, the therapist may use a combination of their therapies, too, to better manage the symptoms.
- Family Support Role: The family again plays an essential role in monitoring the patient’s compliance with medications at home and helping them with their chores. Furthermore, they can keep an eye on any recurrence symptoms.
- Social Support: Like psychosis, social support services can massively help patients with schizophrenia deal with stress related to school or work.
Is Psychosis A Long-Term Illness?
Psychosis can be a symptom of any other underlying condition. A few of those conditions may be lifelong, like schizophrenia. However, it can be managed with proper medication and therapy.
Temporary conditions leading to psychosis can be treated once and for all. If psychosis occurs due to a traumatic experience or due to substance abuse, it can go away with proper treatment and stopping the substance abuse.
Bottomline
Like most other mental disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia can also be managed with proper treatment. Early diagnosis helps to avoid severe conditions and treat the condition more effectively. If you or your loved one is exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia, psychosis, or any other mental disorder, consult with a psychiatrist in SG and don’t delay the treatment.
