Description

• Psychosis is a set of symptoms characterized by illogical, bizarre, or delusional beliefs, abnormal perceptions, and disorganization of emotions, thought, and behavior
• Psychiatric cases stem from intrinsic neuropsychiatric dysfunction, while medical causes arise from systemic or neurologic disruptions triggering dopaminergic and glutamatergic dysregulation
• Psychosis ranges from a relatively mild derangement to catatonia
• Higher likelihood of underlying psychiatric disorder:
  • Hallucinations and illusions incorporated into delusional system
  • Auditory hallucinations
  • Late adolescence/early adulthood
  • Normal orientation
• Higher likelihood of underlying medical disorder
  • Middle- to late-life presentation
  • Acute onset
  • History of substance abuse
  • No preexisting psychiatric history
  • Absence of a family history of major mental illness
  • Presence of preexisting medical disorders
  • Recent memory loss
  • Disorientation or distractibility
  • Abnormal vital signs
  • Nonauditory hallucinations
  • Visual hallucinations:
    • Delirium
    • Dementia
    • Migraines
    • Dopamine agonist therapy (ie, carbidopa)
    • Posterior cerebral infarcts
    • Narcolepsy

Etiology