Understanding different types of psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders are serious mental health conditions that cause a person to experience psychosis. Psychosis is commonly referred to as a “break from reality” due to delusions (believing things that aren’t true) and/or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there). 

Psychotic disorders include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophreniform disorder. These conditions are believed to affect about 3% of the general population.

What does psychotic disorder mean?

The core feature of all psychotic disorders is psychosis. This experience can impact a person’s ability to think clearly, make healthy decisions, relate to others, care for themselves, and function in daily life. While psychosis can take many forms, it typically involves hallucinations (sensing things that aren’t there) and delusions (false beliefs) that lead to a detachment from reality. 

For example, a person experiencing psychosis may:

• Hear voices of people who aren’t really there
• See something that no one else can see
• Smell odors that no one else can detect
• Feel sensations (like bugs crawling on their skin) without a verifiable cause
• Falsely believe that someone is out to harm them 
• Fear they’re being watched or otherwise surveilled (without evidence)
• Believe they have special powers or magical abilities
• Think they’re receiving messages from odd sources (like the television)
• Mistakenly believe a person (like a celebrity or public figure) is in love with them

Psychotic disorders vs. psychosis

Psychosis is the unifying symptom of psychotic disorders. However, a person can experience a psychotic episode without meeting the diagnostic criteria for one of these conditions. 

Some things that may trigger psychosis include:

• Experiencing a traumatic event (like abuse or neglect)
• Severe emotional distress, including intense grief
• Lack of sleep
• Recreational drugs
• Certain prescription medications
• Illnesses like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease
• Health conditions like a traumatic brain injury or a high fever
• Extreme hunger or malnutrition 
• Severe stress

While these experiences can be distressing, know that through early detection and treatment, it’s possible to recover from psychosis. Although psychosis can be recurring, some people never experience an additional episode. With the right support, it’s possible to live a full, balanced life.

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Types of psychotic disorders

There are three main types of psychotic disorders. They are:

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by ongoing disconnection from reality due to hallucinations and/or delusions. Without treatment, it can severely impact a person’s ability to go to school, sustain employment, maintain relationships, and function in daily life.

Schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder combines symptoms of schizophrenia (hallucinations and delusions) with symptoms of a mood disorder (like depression or bipolar disorder). “Schizo-” refers to the symptoms of schizophrenia, and “-affective” refers to extreme shifts in mood, energy, and behavior brought on by mood disorders.

Schizophreniform disorder

Schizophreniform disorder is considered a temporary form of schizophrenia. In this presentation, psychotic symptoms (like hallucinations and delusions) typically last between one and six months. If symptoms last beyond six months, the diagnosis may change to schizophrenia.

Support for people with psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders are serious mental health conditions that typically require ongoing care. In some cases, people with these conditions may require hospitalization or inpatient services before engaging with other levels of support. Fortunately, research shows that, with coordinated care, people with psychotic disorders can strengthen their mental health and live fulfilling lives. 

Care for people with psychotic disorders usually involves a combination of:

• Therapy: People with psychotic disorders can benefit from individual and/or group therapy. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people build resilience and manage aspects of psychosis while working toward their goals. 
• Medication: There are many medications approved to treat psychotic disorders. However, these medications aren’t all the same, so it’s always best to discuss the pros and cons of various medications with your medical providers.
• Case management: A case manager can assist with things like getting a job, attending school, obtaining stable housing, and other important life tasks that can be impacted by psychotic disorders. 
• Family involvement: People with psychotic disorders may wish to include supportive family members involved in their recovery. There are programs that can help loved ones learn about psychotic disorders and improve their communication and problem-solving skills.

In addition to working with various specialists and mental health professionals, it’s important that people with psychotic disorders feel involved in decision making related to their care. This is because when a person’s needs, preferences, and goals are reflected in their treatment plan, they’re more likely to stay engaged with care.

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People living with untreated psychotic disorders may experience a detachment from reality due to hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are false perceptions (like seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), and delusions are false beliefs (like thinking you’re being watched). 

Sometimes, these symptoms can be difficult to manage and may significantly impair a person’s ability to function. However, with help from medical and mental health professionals, case managers, and supportive loved ones, people with psychotic disorders can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. 

When you need specialized care for a psychotic disorder or another mental health concern, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. But with Rula, you can access affordable, specialized care via convenient virtual appointments. In just a few minutes, you can use our therapist-matching program to find the right provider for your needs. And, thanks to our network of over 10,000 providers, you won’t wait weeks or months to meet with a therapist or psychiatric provider. You can make a selection today and schedule your first live video session for as soon as tomorrow.

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