psychotic

Psychotic is an adjective referring to psychosis, a mental state characterized by a disconnection from reality, often with perceptual abnormalities, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Psychotic experiences can occur as symptoms of various mental health conditions, or, less commonly, as standalone disorders. The term describes both the experiences themselves and, informally, a person who is experiencing psychosis, though clinical language favors phrasing such as "a person with psychosis" rather than "a psychotic."

Core features include delusions (fixed, false beliefs), hallucinations (perceptual experiences without external stimuli, most often voices), disorganized speech or thinking, disorganized or abnormal behavior, and negative symptoms such as reduced motivation or affect.

Psychosis appears in several conditions: schizophrenia-spectrum disorders; mood disorders with psychotic features; substance-induced psychotic disorders; psychotic disorder due to medical illness; brief psychotic disorder; delusional disorder. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, early brain development factors, significant stress, and substances such as cannabis or stimulants; medical conditions like infections or autoimmune diseases can also trigger psychosis.

Assessment involves clinical history, mental state examination, and medical evaluation to exclude reversible causes; DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria may be used. Imaging and laboratory tests support evaluation but are not diagnostic on their own.

Treatment typically includes antipsychotic medications, with psychosocial interventions, case management, family education, and support for functioning. Early intervention during a first episode improves outcomes. Duration and prognosis vary by underlying condition, treatment adherence, and support systems.

In discourse, "psychotic" denotes experiences or states rather than a fixed identity; respectful language avoids labeling a person as "the psychotic".