What is a brief psychotic disorder?
A brief psychotic disorder is an episodic psychiatric condition. If you have it, you experience short and sudden periods of psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusions. These episodes are temporary and typically don’t last long. They can be as short as one day or last for an entire month.
It’s important to seek treatment for a brief psychotic disorder if it affects you because the episodes can put you at a higher risk of violent or dangerous behavior. While the cause of brief psychotic disorders is not known, episodes often occur after traumatic life events like the death of a loved one or a physical assault. You might not be able to predict episodes, but successful treatment can help you reduce your chances of future episodes as well as help you learn to manage symptoms when they occur.
What are the signs and symptoms of a brief psychotic disorder?
Symptoms vary with a brief psychotic disorder, and someone else might notice them before you realize that something is wrong. During an episode, you might experience:
- Visual hallucinations
- Auditory hallucinations
- Delusions
- Speech that doesn’t make sense
- Severe disorganization
- Catatonic behavior
When you come to Coping Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry Services with symptoms of brief psychotic disorder, Dr. Vansiea interviews you to evaluate your responses and behaviors. She may look for an underlying mental health condition causing your symptoms, like schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder.
How are brief psychotic disorders treated?
Your treatment for brief psychotic disorder is highly individualized. Generally, Dr. Vansiea recommends a multi-treatment approach for the best possible outcome. She monitors you throughout your treatment and can make changes to your plan if it isn’t working well for you. She might recommend:
Short-term psychotherapy
One-on-one psychotherapy sessions with Dr. Vansiea can help you process and understand your thoughts and behaviors. During psychotherapy, you can develop healthy coping mechanisms. Your regular visits allow Dr. Vansiea to check in with you and monitor your treatment.
Antipsychotic medications
Antipsychotic medications can reduce psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Dr. Vansiea monitors you closely and can adjust your dosage if necessary.
Antidepressants
A brief psychotic disorder can put you at a higher risk of depression. If you have symptoms of depression, Dr. Vansiea might add antidepressant medications to your treatment plan.
To get help managing a brief psychotic disorder, call Coping Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry Services, or book an appointment online today.
