Psychosis

A psychotic state is one in which a person suffering from one of several mental illnesses loses touch with reality. People experiencing psychosis may be diagnosed as schizophrenic, manic-depressive, or delusional. Psychosis can also be induced from drug or alcohol abuse, reaction to medication, from exposure to some toxic substance, or from trauma to the brain. Psychotic episodes have a duration that may last for a brief period or may last for weeks and months at a time. Since the 1950s new medications have been developed to effectively treat psychosis and allow the person suffering from delusions or hallucinations to regain a more accurate view of reality.

There is significant evidence that the cause of psychosis lies within the limbic system, an area of the brain that lies deep within the lower, center portion of the brain and is believed to control the emotion, behavior, and perception of external and internal stimulation. The limbic system connects to all areas of the brain. It can be compared to a telephone network. If one line is down, communication cannot be made. Likewise, if an area within the limbic system is not functioning properly, appropriate signals cannot be sent or received, or inappropriate ones may be sent when the system is overloaded and working too hard.