About Psychosis

Psychosis is a condition where the functioning of a person’s brain is severely disrupted, affecting that person’s thoughts, perceptions, emotions and behavior.

Psychotic symptoms can occur in an isolated episode or as part of an ongoing diagnosed illness such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, depression or schizoaffective disorder.

Insights

Mental Health of people with psychosis

Psychotic illness has a severe and often lifelong impact of those affected, their families and friends

Physical health + people with psychosis

People living with psychotic illness die 10-20 years earlier than other Australians

Services and supports for people with psychosis

Recovery and social inclusion are inhibited by social isolation and loneliness, lack of effective employment support and financial concerns

Employment and people with psychosis

Many people with psychosis want to work, but are unable to find and retain suitable employment

Social Isolation + people with psychosis

The isolation of many people with psychosis is a painful added burden to the symptoms, disability, poor physical health and social disadvantage already experienced

What Causes Psychosis

The causes of psychosis are not fully understood. It is likely that psychosis is caused by a combination of hereditary and other factors. Psychosis may be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and certain drugs (for example, marijuana, speed or LSD) can trigger the first episode of psychosis.

Psychotic disorders cause great suffering:

30% of patients attempt suicide; up to 13% succeed
almost 80% of the disability of schizophrenia is currently untreatable
more than 50% of the disability of bi-polar disorder is currently untreatable

Approximately three in 100 people will experience a psychotic episode at some point in their life. Some people only experience a few episodes of psychosis or a brief episode that lasts for a few days or weeks. Others will experience symptoms more frequently, in association with a longer-term illness such as schizophrenia. The first episode of psychosis usually occurs in a person’s late teens or early 20s.

Bi-polar Disorder >