Understanding Psychotic Depression: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

2023-06-13 09:13:03

12:05 PM

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

I wrote – Nada Sami:

Psychotic depression is one of the severe types of depression, its symptoms differ and share with some symptoms of psychosis, and the effect of this mental illness on individuals varies according to its degree, the patient’s condition, his mental health, and the time of appearance for treatment.

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In the following report, “The Consulto” reviews the symptoms of psychotic depression, and the available treatment options, according to “Very well mind”.

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Psychosis is hallucinations such as hearing a voice telling you that you are no good or worthless, or delusions such as intense feelings of worthlessness, failure, committing a sin or detachment from reality. Psychotic depression affects approximately one in four people who are hospitalized for depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a person with psychosis is out of touch with reality. People may hear voices, or they may have strange and irrational thoughts, for example they may think that others may hear their thoughts or try to harm them.

People with other mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, also suffer from psychosis, but people with psychotic depression usually have delusions or hallucinations consistent with depressive themes such as worthlessness or failure and intense compassion.

What are the symptoms of psychotic depression?

Common symptoms for patients with psychotic depression include:

– Worrying.

constipation.

-Insomnia.

– delusions.

hallucinations

-Lack of sleep.

-self harming.

Unjustified nervousness.

Causes of psychotic depression

There is no clear reason behind developing psychotic depression, but there are some factors that increase the chances of developing it, and these factors are as follows:

Genetic factors may be a cause of psychotic depression.

Previous depression.

Exposure to the pressures of life and the inability to vent them.

Going through major accidents during childhood.

Having a family history of schizophrenia.

How is psychotic depression treated?

Treatment for psychotic depression is usually given in a hospital with the patient closely monitored by mental health professionals. Various medications are used to stabilize a person’s mood, including combinations of antidepressants and antipsychotic medications.

Antipsychotic medications affect neurotransmitters that allow communication between neurons in areas of the brain that regulate the ability to perceive and organize information regarding the world, helping to improve some symptoms.

Each medication has unique side effects and may vary in effectiveness. Although treatment for psychotic depression is very effective, people can usually recover within several months, but continued medical follow-up may be necessary.

If medications do not succeed in ending psychosis and depression, sometimes electroconvulsive therapy is used. It is important for the patient to work with the doctor to find the most effective medications with the least side effects, because psychotic depression is dangerous and may lead some to commit suicide.

Also read: Why are some people more prone to depression than others?

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