From the Guidelines
Psychotic behavior is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and speech, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms, which can be caused by various conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and certain medical conditions, and requires immediate psychiatric evaluation and treatment. According to the study 1, psychotic behavior includes symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, which are two cardinal features of psychotic symptomatology. Additional symptoms may include disorganized speech or thought, disorganized or abnormal motor behavior, including catatonia or agitation, and negative symptoms, such as diminished expression of emotions. Some common examples of psychotic behavior include:
- Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there
- Delusions, such as fixed false beliefs despite evidence to the contrary
- Disorganized thinking and speech, such as speaking in jumbled sentences that don't make sense
- Abnormal motor behavior, such as catatonic states or excessive agitation
- Negative symptoms, such as flat affect or social withdrawal These behaviors can stem from disruptions in brain function, particularly involving neurotransmitters like dopamine and glutamate, as mentioned in the study 1. It's essential to recognize these symptoms early, as treatment typically involves antipsychotic medications, therapy, and social support, and untreated psychosis can worsen over time and lead to significant functional impairment. In cases of new onset psychosis, it's crucial to determine whether the symptoms are related to an underlying psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or if they are secondary to an underlying medical cause, such as drug/alcohol use, withdrawal, or an underlying medical condition, as stated in the study 1. Overall, immediate psychiatric evaluation and treatment are necessary to address psychotic behavior and prevent further complications, as highlighted in the study 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The BPRS psychosis cluster (conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behavior, suspiciousness, and unusual thought content) is considered a particularly useful subset for assessing actively psychotic schizophrenic patients Examples of psychotic behavior include:
From the Research
Examples of Psychotic Behavior
- Delusions: beliefs that are not based in reality, such as thinking that one's feelings and movements are controlled by others or that others are putting thoughts in one's head 4
- Hallucinations: perceptions in the absence of external stimuli, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there 5, 6, 4, 7
- Disorganized speech: difficulty communicating effectively, such as speaking in a way that is hard to understand or jumping between different topics 6
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior: abnormal motor behavior, such as rigidity or excessive movement 6
- Negative symptoms: lack of motivation, emotion, or interest in activities 6
- Tactile, olfactory, and gustatory hallucinations: hallucinations that involve the senses of touch, smell, or taste 7
- Somatic delusions: beliefs that one's body is somehow abnormal or diseased 7
- Delusions of control: beliefs that one's thoughts or actions are being controlled by external forces 7
- Thought broadcasting: beliefs that one's thoughts are being broadcast to others 7
Psychotic Disorders
- Schizophrenia: a chronic and severe mental disorder characterized by psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions 6, 4
- Schizoaffective disorder: a mental disorder that combines symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorders, such as depression or mania 7
- Bipolar I disorder: a mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania or mixed episodes, often with psychotic symptoms 7
- Depression with psychotic features: a subtype of major depression characterized by the presence of delusions, hallucinations, and other psychotic symptoms 8