Understanding Psychotic Breaks: A Comprehensive Guide

Mental Health Treatment for Psychotic Breaks

A psychotic break refers to a sudden episode of psychosis when someone loses touch with reality. It is sometimes called a psychotic episode, but if not checked can lead to a mental health crisis. During a break, a person’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings can become profoundly distorted. Psychotic breaks are often surprising and frightening both for the person experiencing them and for loved ones.

Research suggests that about 3 in 100 people will experience psychosis at some point in their lives. These episodes can feel bewildering and can signal underlying mental health issues or extreme stress.

In this article, we’ll explore what a psychotic break vs. nervous breakdown is, what causes them, signs of a psychotic break and their symptoms, and how they are diagnosed and treated. We will also discuss how friends and family can support someone during and after a psychotic break.

What is a Psychotic Break?

A psychotic break is not an official psychiatric diagnosis but rather a term used to describe a severe episode of psychosis. In plain terms, it means that a person’s grip on reality has become distorted or slipped.

It is also defined as occurring “when a person loses touch with reality due to a decline in their mental well-being”. In other words, someone might start seeing or hearing things that others do not (hallucinations) or holding false beliefs (delusions).

In answering what is a psychotic break, psychiatric sources agree that a psychotic break usually reflects an underlying issue.

In everyday language, people with psychosis are considered as “lost their minds,” but professionals use terms like psychosis or “psychotic episode.”

During such an episode, the person’s thought processes and perceptions are so affected that they cannot tell what is real and what isn’t. They may hear voices or see hallucinations. A psychotic break can come on suddenly, often in response to extreme stress, substance use, or a medical condition.

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Causes and Risk Factors

Psychotic breaks can be triggered by various factors. No single cause fits everyone, but experts have identified several:

• Genetic predisposition: Having a family history of psychosis (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) makes a psychotic break more likely. Genes play a role, although they’re not the whole story.
• Neurochemical imbalances: Changes in brain chemistry for example, dysregulation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, can underlie psychotic break symptoms. Psychosis is often linked to excess dopamine activity in certain brain areas.
• Stress and trauma: Severe or chronic stress is a major trigger. Traumatic events (emotional or physical abuse, accidents, the death of a loved one, etc.) can precipitate a break, especially in someone already vulnerable. Even high levels of everyday stress (like intense work pressure or relationship problems) can contribute.
• Substance use: Certain drugs can cause a psychotic break in people with or without prior mental illness. Stimulants (methamphetamine, cocaine), hallucinogens (LSD, PCP), and even excessive alcohol use are known causes. Sometimes a person enters a psychotic state during intoxication or withdrawal.
• Medical and brain conditions: A psychotic break can be one of the symptoms of psychosis as well as various medical issues. For example, traumatic brain injury or neurological illnesses (like dementia or brain tumors) might cause psychosis. Also, mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe depression often include psychotic episodes.
• Environmental and social factors: Living conditions can play a part. Extreme isolation, lack of social support, or living in high-pressure environments may contribute to the risk. Chronic poverty, homelessness, or being in an unsafe situation can also increase vulnerability.

Who is at Risk?

Psychotic breaks most often occur in late adolescence or early adulthood, though they can happen at any age. People with a history of mental illness, those under a lot of stress, or anyone misusing substances are generally at higher risk.

Many experts emphasize that it’s usually a combination of factors that leads to a psychotic break. For instance, someone might have a genetic vulnerability, then go through a traumatic event or start abusing drugs, which together trigger the break.

Symptoms and Signs of a Psychotic Break

The psychotic break symptoms fall into a few categories. Early warning signs may show up before full-blown psychosis, and characteristic symptoms appear during the break itself:

Sometimes people notice subtle changes first. These can include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Unexplained drops in work or school performance
• Neglecting personal hygiene
• Withdrawing socially
• Experiencing very intense emotions (or, conversely, feeling numb)

Once a psychotic break is underway, the following main positive symptoms often occur:

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Disorganized thinking and speech
• Disrupted behavior
• Severe mood swings or emotional changes
• Cognitive difficulties

Diagnosis and Evaluation

There is no single test that diagnoses a psychotic break directly. Instead, psychiatrists and clinicians diagnose psychosis or an underlying mental disorder using clinical evaluation.

If someone is suspected of having a psychotic break, a mental health professional will:

• Conduct a thorough interview
• Assess mental status
• Rule out medical causes
• Use diagnostic criteria like the DSM-5

Clinicians are aware that a psychotic disorder is usually connected to another condition. For schizophrenia, medical experts will check if there have been hallucinations or delusions present at least six months earlier. If someone is thought to have bipolar disorder, healthcare workers will look for signs of mania or depression. As a result, the evaluation covers all important aspects.

Assessment can also be done in the emergency department or psychiatric hospital if the person’s illness makes them unsafe. Sometimes, the treatment for psychosis happens through outpatient care over a series of appointments. Having family by your side can be helpful: doctors may ask them about any changes they’ve seen.

Treatment Approaches

Most people who have mental breakdowns or psychotic breaks can be helped and recover from their condition when they receive appropriate treatment. Most often, treatment is done using medication, therapy, and support from family and friends.

• Medications (Antipsychotics): Antipsychotics are the central treatment for most people with schizophrenia and are very helpful. They sometimes lessen the occurrence of hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking. As your psychotic break symptoms improve, your doctor may adjust your medications or the amounts you are given.
• Psychotherapy: Counseling and therapy are types of psychotherapy that help people with their emotions. CBT for psychosis aims to help a person recognize when a relapse might be coming and support them in learning new, healthy ways to manage their stress. 
• Hospitalization and Crisis Care: Sometimes, a mental health break requires hospitalization so that the person is safe and treatment can begin. Inside a hospital, patients are safeguarded, cared for and helped by a health care team daily. It helps manage the episode until you can get home.
• Supportive services: Some of these are case management, rehabilitation, or being part of a peer support group. By offering help with going to school or work, being social, and staying away from relapse, these services can keep you on track.
• Lifestyle and self-care: Looking after yourself and caring for your needs also helps your body heal. It is important to sleep regularly, eat well, exercise, and not use drugs or alcohol. Make time for mindfulness, relaxation, and healthy coping skills.

With a doctor’s help, most people get their medication dosage reduced and manage therapy to maintain stability. Getting early treatment gives you the best chance for a positive outcome.

Supporting Someone Experiencing a Psychotic Break

Supporting a loved one going through or working through a psychotic break is important. You can do so by following these steps.

• Try not to become upset or impatient when someone says things that seem untrue or when your loved one behaves strangely. Keep in mind, during a psychotic break the person is not fully there mentally. Attempt to talk calmly and softly.
• Acknowledge and give importance to your loved one’s words, even if they don’t seem to add up to you. Don’t try to argue or discuss the hallucinations or delusions they experience.
• Ensure all sharp, unsafe objects or weapons are removed from the area.
• Help by suggesting that they go to a doctor, just in case they might harm themselves or anyone else. You might decide to make the phone call or let them do it.
• Provide their basic care: Give them water or food, then try to provide them with a quiet place. When a person is upset, a blanket, low lights, and softer music might help to calm them.
• After the acute episode is over, your support should continue.
• Take the time to study psychosis so you are better informed.

On the whole, be empathetic. Since a psychotic break affects relationships, it’s important to be patient and caring.

Just letting them know they are in no danger with you is helpful enough. When you provide support and the right treatment, a person may get better and feel whole again.  

Conclusion

Getting treatment when someone has a psychotic break is important, as understanding can help them recover. Psychotic breaks are periods during which a person loses touch with reality. Problems such as genetics, trauma, disease, or substance use can initiate schizophrenia. Some main signs are hallucinations, delusions, confusion in thought,s and major shifts in behavior.

A reminder: help for a psychotic break is always an option, either for you or someone you are concerned about. Get in touch with someone from the mental health field, as early help can really help.

Support and attention given in a timely way allow individuals to rebuild their lives. Informing ourselves and creating awareness helps us all assist people who have a psychotic break.

Contact us today to arrange the best mental health service for your loved one. Call today to speak with our team and learn more about our programs. We Level Up Washington: (509) 348-4077. Your next step starts here.