Understanding the signs, symptoms, and effects of psychotic disorders is an important part of the effort to get help for yourself or your loved one. At Rio Vista Behavioral Health in El Paso, Texas, we’re proud to be a source of information and comprehensive care for adolescents and adults who have been struggling with psychotic disorders.

Understanding Psychotic Disorders

Learn about psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders are a group of mental health disorders whose symptoms, generally speaking, involve impaired ability to correctly perceive and effectively interact with your environment. Examples of psychotic disorders include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, brief psychotic disorder, and delusional disorder.

Depending upon the type of psychotic disorder a person has developed, they will experience one or more of the following:

Delusions: Believing things that have no basis in reality
Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
Disorganized thoughts: Typically evidenced by rambling, unconnected, or incomprehensible speech patterns
Disorganized or abnormal motor behavior: Including unpredictable agitation, problems with goal-directed behaviors, and catatonia
Negative symptoms: Diminished emotional expression and decreased motivation

The signs, symptoms, and effects of psychotic disorders can make it extremely difficult for people to establish and maintain a productive independent lifestyle. However, with proper professional care, life can get much better for adolescents, adults, and senior adults who have been struggling with psychotic disorders. With the right type and level of help, people can experience relief from certain effects of psychotic disorders, learn to manage their symptoms, and achieve an increased quality of life.

Statistics

Statistics about psychotic disorders

The following statistics about psychotic disorders are from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

About 3% of the population will experience at least one episode of psychosis in their lifetime.

Experts estimate that about 26% of people who are living in homeless shelters are struggling with a psychotic disorder or another serious mental health challenge.
As many as 30% of adolescents with schizophrenia may attempt suicide at least once.
In the United States, the life expectancy for men with schizophrenia is 14.6 years less than the national average.
The life expectancy for women with schizoaffective disorder in the United States is 17.5 years less than the national average.

Causes & Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for psychotic disorders

No sole cause has been identified for psychotic disorders. However, certain risk factors have been identified for various psychotic disorders. Some of the risk factors for psychotic disorders include:

Family history of psychotic disorders
Personal history of certain mental health disorders
Age (certain psychotic disorders are much more common among young adults)
Season of birth
Irregular brain chemistry
Growing up in an urban environment
Certain pregnancy and birth complications
Childhood malnutrition
Certain inherited personality traits

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of psychotic disorders

The signs and symptoms of psychotic disorders can vary according to the type of psychotic disorder a person has developed, the presence of co-occurring conditions, and a host of additional personal factors. However, in general, a person who experiences the following signs and symptoms may struggle with a psychotic disorder:

Behavioral symptoms:

Claiming to see, hear, or believe things that are not connected to reality
Being unable to express clear and consistent thoughts
Struggling to interpret and respond to social cues
Speaking in a monotone or flat voice
Failing to tend to personal hygiene and other elements of self-care
Acting with uncharacteristic and unexplained anger, agitation, or hostility
Pulling away from family and friends
Ending participation in significant activities
Being unable to complete goal-directed activities
Exhibiting catatonic behavior

Physical symptoms:

Inhibited motor skills
Flat, expressionless appearance

Mental symptoms:

Overwhelming confusion
Hallucinations and delusions
Difficulty concentrating or focusing
Poor attention span
Lack of motivation
Depersonalization (feeling detached from your body)
Derealization (feeling detached from the world around you)
Anxiety
Paranoia

Effects

Effects of psychotic disorders

An untreated psychotic disorder can have a devastating impact on a person’s physical, mental, and socioeconomic well-being. Depending upon the nature and severity of a person’s symptoms, the potential negative effects of psychotic disorders can include the following:

Family discord
Inability to form and maintain healthy relationships
Poor academic performance
Problems finding and keeping a job
Financial distress
Physical injury due to symptomatic behaviors
Legal problems, including arrest and incarceration, as a result of symptomatic behaviors
Health problems related to diminished ability to follow medical advice
Onset or worsening of other mental health symptoms
Substance abuse and addiction
Social withdrawal and isolation
Homelessness
Suicidal thoughts and actions

Please note that the outcomes listed above are potential negative effects of untreated psychotic disorders. When adolescents or adults receive effective professional care for psychotic disorders, their risk of experiencing continued harm decreases significantly. Getting the right type and level of help can make a significant difference in the life of a person who has been living with a psychotic disorder.

Co-Occurring Disorders