Psychology :: Understanding Disturbing Behavior (Page 1 of

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The clinical word "psychotic" is often used to refer to person who has gone mad or insane. The
psychotic state is characterized by a disturbance of perception or sensing things that are not really
there (hallucinations); and disturbance of thinking or having beliefs that are not based on reality
(delusions). Psychotic individuals also have problems in thinking clearly (disordered thinking), and
have reduced ability to recognize if something is wrong with their thoughts and actions (lack of
insight). Psychosis is a condition in which a person has lost touch with reality which leads to an
impairment of judgment. In the language of psychology, psychosis is considered more as a syndrome
rather than an illness since the diagnosis is based on the observation of a set of symptoms and not
on the identification of the cause of the psychological problem. According to the Institute of Mental
Health, a person may exhibit some unusual behavior during pre-psychotic phase which may include:
Perceptual disturbances such as feelings that things around have changed;
Mood disturbances such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability and anger;
Cognitive disturbances such as poor attention and concentration, difficulties in thinking,
suspiciousness, and unusual beliefs; and
Behavioral disturbances such as change in sleep and appetite patterns, social withdrawal, loss of
interest in things, deterioration in occupation and academic functioning.
Some people may probably interpret these disturbing behaviors as symptoms of stress especially if
the changes are associated with some stressful life events. Others may consider them as the other
side of a persons personality. In some cultures, mental or psychological illness is associated with
supernatural causes rather than on the presence of physiological or psychological problems. There
needs to be a personal understanding of these disturbances to determine the help seeking behavior.
Sometimes, even for those who suspect that it may be a mental health condition, the stigma of
seeking psychiatric help may deter them from consulting a psychiatrist. No wonder, it takes so long
before a person decides to seek professional help. In psychiatry, there are a number of disorders
that come under the general title of the psychosis. They all manifest different symptoms but all have
a common denominator: the psychotic person is no longer in touch with reality. Some of the
symptoms or manifestations of a psychosis include:
Schizophrenia Schizo-Affective Disorder Manic-Depression (Bipolar Disorder) Mania Delusional
(Paranoid) Disorders Psychotic Depression
Usually, the family or the person involved initially seek the assistance of general practitioners and
counselors regarding the patient's change in behavior and inability to normally function as an
individual. It is of utmost importance that there is a high index of suspicion in order to pick up cases
of possible psychosis. It is also a must to refer them early to doctors for further evaluation and
treatment. This is especially true if the person who is exhibiting pre-psychotic symptoms has the
following risk factors:

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