Psychosis refers to symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, and bizarre and inappropriate motor behavior that indicate loss of contact with reality.
This diagnosis applies when psychosis is the result of a medical condition rather than a mental disorder such as schizophrenia Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by loss of contact with reality (psychosis), hallucinations (usually, hearing voices), firmly held false beliefs (delusions), abnormal thinking... read more . For example, people with temporal lobe epilepsy Seizure Disorders In seizure disorders, the brain's electrical activity is periodically disturbed, resulting in some degree of temporary brain dysfunction. Many people have unusual sensations just before a seizure... read more sometimes hallucinate that they are smelling things that are not present.
Other medical disorders that may cause psychosis include brain tumors and infections, stroke Overview of Stroke A stroke occurs when an artery to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, resulting in death of an area of brain tissue due to loss of its blood supply (cerebral infarction). Symptoms occur suddenly... read more , migraine Migraines A migraine headache is typically a pulsating or throbbing pain that ranges from moderate to severe. It can affect one or both sides of the head. It is often worsened by physical activity, light... read more , and some hormone disorders. However, people who have severe confusion (delirium Delirium Delirium is a sudden, fluctuating, and usually reversible disturbance of mental function. It is characterized by an inability to pay attention, disorientation, an inability to think clearly... read more ) from a severe medical illness or drug withdrawal are not considered to have psychotic disorder due to a medical condition.
Treating the medical condition often reduces the severity of psychotic symptoms, but some people also need specific treatment for the psychotic symptoms.
