Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a “loss of contact with reality”. People suffering from psychosis are described as psychotic. Psychosis is given to the more severe forms of psychiatric disorder, during which hallucinations anddelusions and impaired insight may occur. Some professionals say that the term psychosis is not sufficient as some illnesses grouped under the term “psychosis” have nothing in common (Gelder, Mayou & Geddes 2005).
People experiencing psychosis may report hallucinations or delusional beliefs, and may exhibit personality changes and thought disorder. Depending on its severity, this may be accompanied by unusual or bizarre behavior, as well as difficulty with social interaction and impairment in carrying out daily life activities.
A wide variety of central nervous system diseases, from both external poisons and internal physiologic illness, can produce symptoms of psychosis.
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Dr. Mark G. Agresti, M.D.
Board Certified Psychiatrist • Integrative Medicine
Dr. Agresti is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 26 years of experience in Palm Beach, FL. He completed his medical degree at Chicago Medical School and his psychiatry residency at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, specializing in integrative psychiatry, complex psychopharmacology, ketamine and Spravato therapy, and medication-assisted treatment for addiction.