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The term psychosis comes from the Greek words, ‘psyche’, which means ‘mind or soul’ and ‘osis’, which means ‘abnormal’. So, the term psychosis generally means a mind or soul that is different from normal.

Psychosis is a condition in which the person affected has very little hold on reality. The two common observations in people with psychosis is that they are delusional in that their belief system is warped and they tend to hallucinate in that they tend to see, hear or sense things that aren’t there.

Causes

There is no single cause of psychosis. Listed below are some of the common causes of psychosis:

• Alcohol, drug or steroidal abuse
• Diseases that affect the brain or immunity levels such as, brain tumors or cysts, HIV, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and Huntington’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Stroke
• Chemical imbalances in the brain
• Stress
• Post-traumatic stress
• Hereditary factors
• Some forms of abuse or experiencing traumatic events also trigger psychosis

Symptoms

The symptoms of psychosis differ from person to person; however, some of the common symptoms are listed below:

• Disorganized way of thinking
• Unclear speech pattern
• Paranoia
• Hostility
• Suspicion
• Unrealistic sense of superiority (grandiosity)
• Delusional behavior (false beliefs)
• Hallucinations (hearing, seeing or feeling things that are not there)

Types

There are many different subtypes of psychosis. Some of them are listed below.

• Menstrual psychosis
• Postpartum psychosis (after childbirth)
• Monothematic delusions (delusions about one particular topic)
• Myxedematous delusions (dementia due to under active thyroid gland)
• Occupational psychosis (excessive bias on one’s occupation)
• Tardive psychosis (caused due to side effects of antipsychotic drugs)
• Shared psychosis (madness of many, close or family members believing the same delusion)
• Stimulant psychosis (psychosis due to stimulant drugs)
• Cycloid psychosis (psychosis that progresses from a normal state to a full blown condition within a few hours)

Amphetamine Psychosis

Amphetamine is a stimulant drug. Amphetamine psychosis is a psychosis which is induced by overdoes of the drug amphetamine. This kind of psychosis mainly occurs in drug abusers and rarely occurs in those who take this drug as a form of treatment.

Amphetamine psychosis has symptoms very similar to that of other psychosis, with delusions and hallucinations being the main symptoms of the problem.

The good news is that psychosis that is amphetamine induced can stop completely, the bad news is that it takes time. Research suggests that it could take about 10 days for about 64% recovery, and about 30 days for 82% recovery.

Treatment

Treatment for psychosis usually involves administration of antipsychotic drugs and antidepressant medication. In some cases, hospitalization becomes necessary to prevent the patient from harming themselves and their loved ones. However, nowadays a lot of alternative medicine treatment as well as home remedies are being utilized as a non-drug alternative to control this problem.

Below are some of the natural cures or natural remedies for psychosis.

• Fish Oil (omega 3 fatty acids): Research has found that children who eat a lot of fish or consume fish oil in the form of supplements enjoy better mental health. Study also proves that fish oil prevents the progression of psychosis in young adults between the age groups of 13 and 25. Fish oil taken in the form of a capsule once a day for three months resulted in decreased rate of psychosis considerably. Also, it helped control the progression for a further 12 months after intake. Researchers also believe that consuming fish oil can prevent psychosis from occurring in the first place, which is why a diet rich in fish is the key to preventing and managing psychosis. Some of the rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids other than from fish are walnuts and flax seeds.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D as we all know comes from the sun. For many generations people have been sunning themselves for good health. A day out in the sunshine was all that was recommended in the past to cure many a disease. Today, with the depletion of the ozone, many of us do not spend as much time in the sun as we should. Vitamin D is especially important for mental health and well-being. Research suggests that vitamin D is one of the key ingredients in managing depression, psychosis, and other psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Rainbow Diet: According to doctor Walsh who invented the rainbow diet, a person should eat fruits and vegetables of different colors, ensuring that the body gets all the various micro and macro nutrients. Eating such a diet seems to ensure better mental and physical health, which is why it is recommended for those with mind-related illnesses including psychosis.

If anyone you know is experiencing psychosis, it is best to consult with a psychiatrist. A serious condition such as this should not be self-treated.

References

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001553.htm
2. http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Psychosis_explained
3. www.pathwaysrtc.pdx.edu/pdf/fpS1205.pdf