Who is prone to neurosis, psychosis, why go crazy? Psychosis, neurosis, neurasthenia Psychoses and their types of neuroses

Meanwhile, these states have nothing in common, the difference between them is very large, and knowing the differences is important at least in order to understand which specialist to turn to for help in case of problems.

Medical definitions, basic characteristics and a comparative table will help to distinguish neurosis from psychosis, in which the differences between these diseases are clearly visible.

Difference Between Neurosis and Psychosis: Comparison Chart

Without going into details, we note that neurosis differs from psychosis in virtually all respects: the causes, the onset and course of the disease, the characteristic symptoms, the patient's attitude to his condition and, of course, the approach to treatment.

For clarity, the main differences are presented in the table:

For those who wish to delve into the problematics of the difference between neuroses and psychoses in more detail, the following information will be useful.

Characteristics of neurosis

Neurosis is not a disease, but a painful condition that combines a whole group of psychogenic disorders and is traditionally considered as a functional disorder of the higher nervous activity of the GNA.

Neurosis does not have an unambiguous definition either in biology or in medicine, but to one degree or another it is familiar to every person. Only in Russia, according to the WHO, up to 75% of the population suffers from neurotic disorders, and every year a frightening figure is steadily growing.

A term that combines a number of interdependent fears. For example, the fear of leaving the apartment and entering the store. Fear of traveling and being in a crowd.

The clinical picture of agoraphobia is very diverse. In most cases, symptoms such as nausea or palpitations are observed. The intensity of anxiety can vary from mild discomfort to.

Women get sick more often than men. The onset of the disease occurs mainly in adulthood. The main danger lies in the fact that the patient can completely isolate himself from society, closing himself "within four walls."

social phobias

They usually last a few minutes.

Accompanied by chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, feeling and (loss of feeling the reality of what is happening).

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

The symptoms of psychosis are extremely extensive. A wide variety of disorders may be present in mild or severe form. Namely:

Neuroses are very different from psychoses. In addition, the forms of these disorders differ from one another. But occasionally in medical practice it occurs, which combines the symptoms of two diseases.

Do not self-medicate. Symptoms are often vague, making the diagnosis difficult. Only a qualified specialist will help you find peace of mind.

To date, the treatment of psychoses and neuroses is performed in almost the same ways, since these ailments have similar symptoms.

Before starting the most effective treatment, you need to know that neurosis is the name of a certain group of mental disorders. They reduce the mental and even physical performance of a person, have an overly long course, and also have a not very pleasant effect, which is characterized by asthenic, obsessive, hysterical or nervous manifestations. But psychosis is the name of a group of mental disorders in which pseudohallucinations, depersonalization, derealization, illusions, and even delusions most often appear.

Differences between psychosis and neurosis

It has long been known that neurosis is a so-called reversible disorder that can be treated quite successfully, even if the disease bothers a person for a long time. With the development of this disease, the patient himself clearly understands that he needs help, and therefore he can independently go to the clinic. Any of the forms of neurosis that exist today, to which physicians attribute obsessive-compulsive states or neurasthenia, can be treated correctly and in a timely manner.

But psychosis is a form of more severe mental disorders. With the development of the disease, a person is absolutely unable to adequately perceive reality. The patient may develop the most common symptoms that affect his general condition, behavior and thinking change, and memory disorders are not uncommon.

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How is psychosis treated in a timely manner?

The most effective and popular way to treat psychosis is drug treatment. It is based on an individual approach to each patient, when the gender and age of the person, as well as the presence of other ailments, are necessarily taken into account.

The main task in the treatment of the disease is to establish the highest quality cooperation with the patient. The doctor must inspire a person with faith in the possibility of a gradual recovery. The specialist helps the patient overcome the long-standing belief that there is harm from taking modern psychotropic drugs. The relationship between the patient and the physician must necessarily be built only on trust. The doctor guarantees the anonymity of treatment and non-disclosure of confidential information.

Whatever the symptoms of the disease, a person who turned to a qualified specialist for help should not hide certain information from the doctor. For example, the fact of regular use of alcoholic beverages or drugs. It is very important that psychoses be treated with the right medications, which should be most harmoniously combined with the programs of social rehabilitation offered today.

At the same time, patients with mental disorders are taught methods of normal behavior in everyday life. Rehabilitation is an essential element in the treatment of protracted psychosis. It is almost always aimed at teaching the patient the skills of understanding and skills that are necessary in life, for example, using transport, calculating finances, cleaning the home, visiting large stores.

For the treatment of psychosis, psychotherapy is often used, which helps the patient to treat himself and others much better. This is necessary for those people who, due to the development of the disease, begin to experience a feeling of uselessness and inferiority.

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How is neurosis treated?

After a person realizes that he has developed a neurosis and is in an almost hopeless situation, the patient's situation worsens significantly. The patient becomes indecisive, and this is the very first step to losing control of the disease. A person who is experiencing all sorts of psychological torment begins to look for a way out of the situation. However, not many people turn to doctors for help, as they try to treat the disease on their own.

To avoid the appearance of a variety of consequences that neuroses lead to, you need to contact a professional psychotherapist in a timely manner. Treatment of this disease is carried out using a variety of methods. The psychotherapy used by different schools helps a person to realize the main reason that determines the origin of such a serious violation. As a result of the therapy used, the patient will be able to understand the most correct relationship between life experience and the situation, which gradually led to significant contradictions.

Among the numerous mental disorders, pathologies such as neurosis and psychosis are often observed. These violations have nothing in common, but at first they can be confused. What is the difference between neurosis and psychosis?

Causes of diseases

The reasons for the development of neuroses and psychoses are different. Therefore, they should be considered in turn. Reactive psychosis is a mental disorder, the essence of which lies in inadequate human behavior, a violation of the perception of reality, an unusual reaction to environmental factors.

Depending on the causes of psychosis, it is divided into several groups:

• Endogenous: appears due to a failure of neurohumoral regulation.
• Exogenous: occurs as a result of exposure to severe stress, the use of drugs, alcohol, the development of inflammatory processes in the nervous system, the penetration of infections.
• Organic: is formed due to the fact that the structure of the brain, blood circulation in it is disturbed.

Neurosis is a mental deviation, which implies the depletion of the nervous system due to prolonged exposure to stressful situations or psychological trauma from childhood.

The culprit for the development of this disorder may be factors such as poisoning the body with toxins, hereditary predisposition, damage to the brain and skull, adverse social or living conditions, regular experiences at home.

Differences in violations

At first glance, it may seem that these two mental disorders are very similar. But in fact, these are two completely different diseases. How do they differ from each other? The difference between neurosis and psychosis lies in the following facts:

Forms and clinical picture of neurosis

Neurosis can be of several forms, each of which has its own clinical manifestations. These are types like:

• Neurasthenia. It is also called chronic fatigue syndrome. It consists in the depletion of the nervous system, which is accompanied by irritability, soreness in the head, excessive fatigue, sleep disturbance.
• Hysteria. It is a disorder not only of the nervous, but also of the motor system. People with neurosis of this form have convulsive seizures, failure of speech function, inadequacy of emotional reactions.
• Fear. This form is characterized by constant anxiety or the development of a phobia.
• Obsessive state. This type of neurosis occurs in patients who are suspicious, excessive anxiety. Such people exhibit obsessive actions, thoughts, and memories.

Symptoms of psychosis

Reactive psychoses have slightly different symptoms. This disorder causes hallucinations, delusions. Also, in patients, the perception of the world around is disturbed, sensations change, emotional instability, and sudden mood swings are observed.

The movements of a person suffering from psychosis are chaotic, speech is incomprehensible, jerky. His state is similar to a person's sleep. Signs of the disease do not form immediately when the disorder occurs. The disease develops gradually.

Treatment of disorders

Neuroses and reactive psychoses are treated in different ways. Medications are prescribed quite rarely, only in severe forms of pathologies. Antidepressants and mild sedatives are commonly used.

A neurotic patient lives a normal life. In the event of an exacerbation of the disease, he can easily cope on his own, using sedatives, auto-training, controlling his thoughts.

Most often, the disorder can be eliminated by eliminating factors that provoke stress, lifestyle adjustments, good nutrition, vitamin therapy, good sleep, contact with positive and friendly people, prolonged exposure to fresh air, outdoors, and sports.

People with reactive psychoses cannot do without psychotherapy alone. In this case, patients are required to take serious medications that help to correct a person’s condition and eliminate the clinical picture of the pathology. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, normotimics and anticholinergics are mainly used.

After all the pronounced symptoms of a mental disorder are removed, the doctor may prescribe additional methods. These include psychoeducation, behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, occupational therapy, various trainings.

There is also a difference regarding the duration of treatment. It takes a lot of time to get rid of neuroses. Therapy can last several months or even years. In rare cases, the symptoms of the disease disappear on their own. Psychosis is not treated for so long, a maximum of a year.

In no case should it be ignored, since the human condition will only worsen. Trying to cure the disorder on your own will not work, because the patient cannot recognize the difference between reality and delusion.

Relatives should help in overcoming the disease. In most cases, it is relatives who notice that a person is behaving strangely and require examination. The patient himself cannot detect disturbances in his psyche.

It is not difficult for a doctor to determine that a patient has neurosis or psychosis. These conditions are completely different and their approach to treatment also differs.

In practice, they have much in common. At least, the bearer of problems is one - a person.

It's all about reversibility

The concept of "neurosis" appeared in medical literature due to the impact on the mass consciousness of the ideology of the Enlightenment. It is believed that it was introduced by the Scottish physician William Cullen. Currently, neurosis is understood as any mental abnormalities, disorders and disorders of a reversible nature. Reversibility itself is determined only by the expected success of the treatment. For someone, banal depression will never go away at all, but for someone in a couple of days. It is not possible to give an absolute guarantee.

Also, neuroses are understood as states that it would be more appropriate to call psychoses that are not associated with a loss of sanity. There are no delusions, hallucinations, and possible euphoria does not turn into violent insanity, then it politely calls it neurosis.

Neurosis. There is no unique definition of state. The term "sticks" in all cases where the patient leaves ground for hope. For example, if a person suffering from bipolar disorder comes to a psychotherapist and talks about his problems, then all this can be called neurosis already on the fact of his voluntary appearance by specialists. If he was caught in a bad shape, and he resisted the employees of the trapping authorities, then with a high degree of probability all this will be called psychosis.

Psychosis. He has a definition. These are obvious, specific, clearly demonstrable disorders in mental activity, which most often are not treated.

Those who like to see something scientific behind everything, and understand the definite and understandable by scientific, here one significant disappointment awaits. Neurosis and psychosis received a distinction due to jurisprudence and the need to somehow attribute people's actions to punishable and not very punishable, or punishable only by the fact of treatment itself in institutions isolated from other members of society.

How so? Why is there no definition?

Try to create it. Define the soul. Yes, because we have already outgrown the period when the slogan "All diseases from nerves" covered not only the masses, but also specialists. Modern science has already outgrown the level when the soul is recognized as either uniquely existing, or rejected as such.

The term "psychosis" contains two Greek words ψυχ - soul, mind, and -ωσις - disturbed state. It turns out that we have not yet known the soul, we are convinced that it is impossible to do this unequivocally, but violations and disorders, due to their existence, which do not need to be proved, have already been “attached” to it ...

Very often an attempt to explain the nature that psychoses and neuroses have is mistaken for an attempt to explain them at the level of "cause - effect". So, Sigmund Freud first said that psychosis is a kind of mental disorder and put them on a par with neuroses and perversions, but a little later he said that psychosis is the result of the conflict “I am the outside world”, and neurosis called the consequence of the conflict "I - It". Note that even then, in the first half of the 20s of the 20th century, paranoid schizophrenia was considered an endogenous disorder. How this fits in with the conflict with the outside world is difficult to understand. Carl Jung called psychosis the result of flooding consciousness with the archetypes of the unconscious. According to this logic, what is a neurosis? A small spill, like from a faucet forgotten by a sloppy owner for 10 minutes in the open state?

The division into this and that has always been much more arbitrary than it might seem. The very reason why it is done is in the presence of forensic medicine, and not in science as such.

From the word "psychosis" breathes evil fate, the inability to change something, therefore, for reasons of correctness, it is sometimes replaced by neurosis. It is easy to do this, because sometimes the very negative states that people experience are not clear what to refer to and how to describe in words. This is very well confirmed by the so-called reactive psychoses, which are no different from neuroses, since they are reversible. At the same time, neuroses and reactive psychoses can occur in people suffering from paranoid psychopathy, which is irreversible.

On the example of OKR

The question of whether neurosis can turn into psychosis in this context is incorrect. A person suffering from psychopathy may have symptoms of what is referred to as neurosis and psychosis at the same time. What will go where? So, obsessive-compulsive disorder is often called obsessive-compulsive disorder, although in practice it is a real psychosis. It is more appropriate to say that this is a syndrome, and it is better to attribute it to an anancaste personality disorder. This is an obsession, and the Yale-Brown scale will help determine the severity. Its high validity is ensured by the fact that it allows you to track the clinical dynamics of changes in the level of symptoms. We can talk about the exacerbation of OCD based on two criteria:

• the frequency of occurrence of obsessive thoughts;
• the intensity of their experiences.

To some extent, obsessive thoughts are inherent in all people in general, only in patients they take precedence. It is not at all the fact that they are committing some terrible crimes.

A certain technical college student was unable to attend lectures because he suffered from OCD. What happened to him? Obsession instilled in him the desire to create safe conditions for people. If he sees a stone, he takes it somewhere where no one will trip over this stone. Sometimes additional obsessions came to mind, then he thought with horror that someone would stumble there. Then he blamed himself for having carried the stone so unsuccessfully and rushed to carry it to the third place. The number of stones and places was enough to calm down only for dinner.

Of course, a psychologist can only identify obsessive-compulsive disorder. The case with the student is perceived as quite good. Therefore, it is compassionately called obsessive-compulsive disorder. If the student could not calm down until he sent a couple of old women to the next world, then the very word would seem out of place and the hero of the example would be called a maniac, and the disorder itself would be psychosis, an acute form of clouding of reason. Although from a medical point of view - there is no difference in this. It's just a disorder that may or may not be treatable.

The treatment of psychosis and neurosis can have a variety of schemes, but it is always aimed at relieving symptoms. If an OCD sufferer is able to resist their obsessive thoughts and the desires they cause, then it is considered successful. To set yourself the task of ensuring that thoughts do not come - it would be too bold and even the wrong approach.

People become free from evil not when it is not in them, but when it cannot do anything with them. On the example of OCD, psychology appears in all its glory. First, all attempts to establish the cause of the occurrence yielded nothing. Secondly, in the very term obsession there is a hint of the devil, although the concept of "obsession" is taken away from the religious field into the scientific one, which is why it is said about the obsession with an idea. Thirdly, there is no general scheme. Everything is always very individual. Ordinary cognitive therapy may be enough for someone, although the case seemed very difficult, and someone finds himself in captivity of addiction all his life.

Intervene only when necessary

There is a hypothesis of early intervention in psychoses. Its supporters argue that if treatment is started even at the moment when psychosis gave only the first signs, then it will be most effective. True, the programs focus mainly on the prodromal period and are aimed at preventing the onset of the disease in people at risk. Everything is very logical only in words. The risk group can safely be attributed to all the poor segments of the population, since the paranoid forms of schizoid psychosis belong to them. Poor people become paranoid twice as often as rich people. Clinics for the first psychotic episode have not shown any significant effectiveness, and the criteria for identifying psychosis in the early stages are highly controversial.

So, the difference between psychosis and neurosis is conditional, and the very assignment of a violation to one or another type does not say anything specifically. The violation itself cannot be diagnosed just so that from idleness you can read the conspiracies of a Siberian healer from psychoses and neuroses. If there is a diagnosis, then there should be a treatment regimen. By definition, it does not give any guarantees and pursues only the task of improving the quality of life of the patient.

Psychoses and neuroses: the specifics of the conditions, their symptoms and differences

Psychosis and neuroses are the terms most often used by medical psychologists, but such conditions also require the help of a neurologist and psychiatrist.

Terminology

Psychoses are a number of diseases accompanied by a change in human consciousness. Usually in such a state there is no critical attitude towards oneself and the people around. In this case, the person is treated inpatiently, because. he is potentially dangerous both for himself and for others. The most effective treatment for psychosis is medication.

According to MBC-10, the term "neurosis" is not used in relation to mental disorders. Psychiatrists distinguish neurological disorders and many forms of their manifestation. This includes disorders caused by stress, somatoform disorders. Neurosis is treated with drugs - antidepressants, vitamins, drugs that affect the brain - and psychotherapy. Treatment is determined by the severity. With a mild form of neurosis, recovery is possible even when the life situation has simply improved, it has been possible to have a good rest, the traumatic factor has disappeared, and a productive conversation with a psychotherapist has taken place. With neurotic disorders, outpatient treatment is more often used.

Both conditions - both neurosis and psychosis - require an individual treatment regimen.

Neurosis

Neurosis is the result of a psychological trauma or a prolonged stressful situation, including a serious and prolonged illness. It depletes the nervous system. Against this background, vegetative disorders are observed - increased sweating, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, palpitations. The patient experiences constant fatigue, anxiety, irritation, increased resentment and tearfulness, there are feelings of despair, aggression, sleep disorders are observed.

With neurosis, the patient can be aware of his actions, retains clarity of thought. Sometimes, realizing his condition, a person tries to cope with the disease on his own.

Neurosis can take the form of:

1. chronic fatigue accompanied by nervous exhaustion, which leads to irritability, headaches, sleep disturbance, overwork;
2. disorders of motor function (up to convulsive seizures), speech disorders, sensory disorders, specific manifestations of emotions (unreasonable tears or laughter, screaming);
3. phobias, constant anxiety;
4. obsessive state, when the patient is constantly haunted by thoughts and memories, it becomes necessary to perform some unreasonable actions.

Psychosis

Psychosis develops as a response to unexpected negative situations. In such a state, a violation of the psyche, a loss of a sense of reality, is obvious. During the period of illness, changes are observed both in the patient's habitual behavior and in his appearance, possibly a violation of facial expressions. The depressed state of the patient, his indifference to the outside world and people is noted. It is with psychosis that delusions and hallucinations occur.

hallucinations

Hallucinations are sensations that occur without stimuli, these are imaginary perceptions.

The types of hallucinations are:

1. olfactory, causing a persistent sensation of the presence of a certain smell in its actual absence. Taste and olfactory hallucinations sometimes appear together;
2. visual, when the patient sees non-existent in this part of space, or unrealistic images;
3. taste, when a taste is felt in the mouth that is not there. With such a hallucination, a person may refuse to eat;
4. auditory, when the patient hears non-existent sounds - words, voices;
5. tactile, when a person can feel the missing object. It happens that they are combined with visual and auditory;
6. bodily, causing discomfort in the body - the passage of an electric discharge, touch, grasping.

Hallucinations are also classified as:

• true, when the images seem real and accurately projected in the surrounding space, and false, not projected in the external environment, a person feels them inside his head, the images are not perceived by the senses;
• simple, which are a reflection of only one sense organ, and complex, when two or more sense organs perceive the image.

The attitude towards a hallucination can be critical when the patient is aware of the unreality of the perceived image, and uncritical when what is happening is accepted as a reality.

Classification of psychoses

There are three types of psychosis, depending on the root cause of their appearance:

1. endogenous, manifested against the background of neuroendocrine factors. This is manic-depressive psychosis, schizophrenia;
2. exogenous, arising as a reaction to external factors - mental trauma, infectious diseases, alcohol and drug addictions;
3. organic, are the result of brain disorders - its congenital pathologies, traumatic brain injuries, tumors, etc.

Differences

The fundamental difference between psychosis and neurosis is the severity of the condition. The first is considered heavy, and the second is light.

Another fundamental difference between these disorders is that the patient feels the signs of neurosis, he is able to adequately assess them himself and seek medical help. With psychosis, a person does not notice the changes taking place, he is deprived of the opportunity to independently assess his condition.

Neurosis is not able to turn into psychosis, but in the absence of treatment it leads to a change in the personality of the patient, forms his psychopathic traits.

Neuroses and psychosis - or how the psyche defends itself from painful reality

No one is safe from neurosis

It is assumed that a person suffering from a neurosis retains a critical attitude towards the disease, and he is able to control his behavior. Some of the most common causes of the development of neurosis can be identified:

• Social:

• unfavorable living conditions in childhood;
• emotional stress;
• experiences during pregnancy.

Obsessive states (various types of phobias).

Symptoms of neuroses

Psychosis is a torn reality

• sleep disturbance and lack of appetite;
• fear of threat, feeling of surveillance;
• careless attitude towards oneself and one's appearance;
• a sharp change of interests;
• decline in activity and impaired attention;
• self-isolation from society;
• increased irritability;
• unusual experiences and perceptions.

Such symptoms should alert a person and his relatives; a psychologist-psychotherapist can provide effective help at this stage.

It may seem that the two diseases have much in common. This is a false feeling. Let's face it:

1. Neurosis begins after suffering stress or a traumatic situation. Psychosis develops imperceptibly.
2. Neurosis is accompanied by somatic, vegetative and affective disorders. Psychosis is a mental disorder.
3. Neurosis does not prevent a person from maintaining a critical attitude to everything that happens. The patient is concerned about his condition. A patient with psychosis does not perceive himself as ill.
4. Neurosis usually does not affect a person's personality so much. Psychosis completely changes the personality of the patient.
5. Neurosis is a curable and reversible condition. Psychosis is difficult to treat.

Treatment of psychoses and neuroses

In such cases, it is reasonable to contact a psychologist-psychotherapist. In a confidential conversation, a specialist will help to understand the causes of a nervous breakdown. After all, neurosis is a reflection of the internal psychological problems of a person. And these problems manifest themselves at the “corporeal” level.

You can tell a psychologist-psychotherapist about your fears and experiences, about everything that worries you. And if the problem is really complicated, then a competent specialist will redirect you to a colleague - a psychiatrist.

In any case, you will receive qualified assistance. Treatment is carried out according to various methods, with an individual approach.

Psychosis and neurosis are two very close concepts that are confused not only by ordinary people, but also by some doctors with experience in the neurological and psychiatric field. In fact, these are different pathological conditions of a person that require an individual approach and treatment.

Definition and reasons

Psychosis is a mental disorder of a person, consisting in strange and unusual behavior for society, a disorder in the perception of the real world around, as well as in an inadequate response to external stimuli.

It is classified according to etiology into the following groups:

1. Endogenous psychoses - can develop against the background of violations of neurohumoral regulation;
2. Exogenous - appears under the influence of severe stress, drug or alcohol addiction, inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system of infectious etiology;
3. Organic psychoses - are associated with a direct violation of the structure of the brain, its traumatization, impaired blood supply.

Neurosis is a pathological condition of the nervous system, its exhaustion, formed as a result of stress, psychological childhood trauma.

It is divided into several forms:

The causes of neurosis are such biological and social factors as toxic poisoning, heredity, traumatic brain injury, unfavorable social or living conditions, constant strong feelings at home, at work, during pregnancy.

Differences and symptoms

The main difference between neurosis and psychosis is the fact that the first condition appears against the background of complete physical well-being, that is, a person does not complain about any other health problems. In the second case, the process is formed imperceptibly, is a consequence of dysfunctions of the endocrine, nervous system.

Neurosis is a somatic, vegetative disorders of the nervous system, psychosis mostly affects the psyche and consciousness of the patient.

With neurosis, the patient is critical of himself, of others, he does not lose touch with the real world and is fully aware of his actions. The patient is able to analyze his condition and admit to himself that he really needs medical help. Psychosis gives a completely opposite picture, a person speaks with all his might about his own well-being and refuses a medical examination.

Neurosis preserves personality, is a reversible condition, subject to therapy. Psychosis suppresses one's own "I", to a small extent amenable to treatment.

The clinical picture is also different from each other. Symptoms of neurosis are psychological discomfort, irritability up to anger and rage, sudden mood swings, a large number of fears and worries without any good reason, tearfulness, chronic fatigue, accompanied by migraine, insomnia, fatigue under normal stress.

Psychoses are characterized by delusions, auditory or visual hallucinations, slurred speech and inexplicable behavior, fixation on certain incidents. The patient limits himself from society, lives in his own separate imaginary world.

As for the question: “Can a neurosis turn into a psychosis?” Opinions differ here. Some experts argue that these are two unrelated conditions that are not intertwined and give their own special complications. The latter say that neurosis, without proper diagnosis and therapy, exhausts the nervous system so much that, in addition to it, the patient's psyche is connected, as a result of which psychosis can develop.

Diagnosis and treatment

A neurologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist is obliged to carefully listen to the patient, check his tendon reflexes, observe his behavior and manner of speech. It is important to collect a complete history of the disease, life, to clarify the presence of concomitant pathologies, domestic and social living conditions.

Treatment is prescribed individually, it consists of two components: taking medications and normalizing the psycho-emotional state.

Of the drugs, antidepressants (Azafen, Imizin), psychostimulants (Provigil, Sydnokarp), tranquilizers (Tofisopam, Diazepam) and anti-anxiety drugs (Adaptol, Deprim) are most preferred. They improve sleep, eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce negative mood, reduce the tension of the nervous system. They are prescribed exclusively by a specialist with the selection of the required dose and duration of taking the drugs.

The following social factors should be eliminated or reduced to a minimum:

• hard work;
• informational and emotional stress;
• violation of the regime, sleep, lack of sleep;
• problems with friends and close relatives;
• absence of a loved one, personal life;
• material and domestic trouble;
• unfulfillment of former dreams and goals.

If a person is not able to solve the listed issues himself, psychologists and psychotherapists will come to his aid, they will model behavior, correct their view of this or that situation.

Additional methods for restoring moral and physical well-being are water procedures, taking baths with essential oils, physiotherapy exercises, relaxing massage, physiotherapy with sedative drugs, acupuncture, darsonvalization.

Symptoms and differences between neuroses and psychoses

The main purpose of psychiatry is the treatment of neurosis and psychosis. These pathologies are increasingly common in the modern world, and the terms have become very common in the practice of psychologists. The human nervous system is subject to such negative factors as genetic predisposition and the negative influence of the environment. At first glance, the symptoms of these diseases are similar to each other. The main difference between neurosis and psychosis lies in the nature of the damage to the nervous system. Neurosis is considered as a mild stage of the disorder. Psychosis is characterized by a severe degree of the disease.

Symptoms and forms of neurosis

Neurosis is a human condition caused by psychological trauma or a prolonged stressful situation. Neurotic disorders deplete the nervous system and are accompanied by vegetative disorders (increased heartbeat, excessive sweating, indigestion). This condition is characterized by irritability, fatigue, anxious feelings, tearfulness and resentment, despair and aggressive manifestations, sleep disorders. With neurosis, a person is able to think clearly, give an account of his actions and independently try to cope with the disease.

Frequent causes of the manifestation of neurosis are traumatic events, prolonged overstrain of the nervous system, internal and external conflicts. The occurrence of the disease is also facilitated by biological and hereditary factors, features in the nature of the individual, conditions and lifestyle, and improper upbringing. Violations in the nervous system come from continuous emotional and physical stress, which lead to chronic stress. The causes of neurosis include diseases that deplete the body.

When diagnosing neurotic disorders, there are several main forms:

1. Neurasthenia, or chronic fatigue syndrome, is an exhaustion of the human nervous system, accompanied by irritability, headache, overwork, sleep disturbance.
2. Hysteria is expressed in a disorder of the motor system (convulsive seizures), in sensory and speech disorders, as well as in emotional reactions (laughter, screaming, crying).
3. Fear is a dominant syndrome characterized by a general anxiety or phobia.
4. An obsessive state manifests itself in people with suspicious and anxious features. The main signs for this form of neurosis are obsessive actions, thoughts and memories.

Psychosis and its manifestations

Psychosis occurs against the background of sudden negative events that entail serious mental disorders and loss of a sense of reality.

In psychotic disorders, there are significant changes in a person's behavior and appearance. This disease is characterized by the occurrence of hallucinations, delusions. The patient becomes depressed and indifferent to the world around him, he is inadequate, inhibited, his facial expressions are disturbed.

Psychoses are classified according to the causes of occurrence:

• endogenous disorders occur against the background of internal neuroendocrine factors; this type includes manic-depressive psychosis and schizophrenia;
• exogenous psychoses are manifested due to the influence of external factors: severe mental trauma, infectious diseases, alcohol and drug addiction;
• organic psychoses are caused by brain disorders (congenital pathology, tumor, traumatic brain injury, etc.).

The symptoms of psychosis are quite extensive. In addition to hallucinations and delusions, this disease is accompanied by disturbances in perception and sensations, emotional instability and mood swings. The patient moves chaotically, speaks indistinctly and abruptly, is in a state similar to sleep. All these symptoms do not occur immediately in one patient. According to the manifestation of certain symptoms, the form of psychosis is determined: depressive, hypochondriacal, affective and others.

Treatment of psychoses and neuroses

Psychoses and neuroses can and should be treated. In order not to succumb to neurotic and psychotic disorders, one should lead an active and healthy lifestyle, play sports, not overwork, avoid stressful situations and undergo regular medical examinations. Any neuroses and reactive psychoses can be cured if you turn to a specialist in a timely manner.

Treatment of neurosis of any form takes place on an individual basis. For therapy to be effective, it is necessary to immediately identify the factors contributing to the development of the disease. Neurosis is treated with medications and with the use of psychotherapy. Depending on the type of neurotic disorder, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants, vitamins, drugs that affect the brain. To completely eliminate a neurosis, you need to eliminate the cause of its appearance or change your view of the situation that led to the disorder.

Regardless of the form of psychosis, the patient is hospitalized, as he is in an inadequate state and can unknowingly harm both people around him and himself. While in the hospital, the patient is treated with psychotropic drugs under the constant supervision of doctors. It is very difficult to cure psychotic disorders, but still possible. Any changes and disorders that have arisen against the background of psychosis have different stability. Some may disappear without a trace in a short period of time, others last longer and may be resistant to treatment.

What are psychoses and neuroses?

Psychoses and neuroses are harbingers of a threat to human health. In the modern world, neurosis and psychosis are fairly common diseases. These ailments affect both adults and the younger generation, these phenomena are often observed in children and adolescents. Consider the most common cases of neurosis and psychosis, the main causes, symptoms and differences of these diseases, as well as methods for their treatment.

Both diseases are an indicator of a malfunction in the body, malfunction of some functions of the nervous system, psyche, and an unhealthy perception of reality by a person. In any case, if a person experiences one of these conditions, he cannot be called completely healthy.

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a disease of the human psyche, which manifests itself in strange, illogical behavior and is expressed in a disorder in the perception of reality.

How does psychosis manifest itself in children and adults? In childhood, psychosis may manifest as hallucinations or delusions. As a rule, a sick child is different from other children, which makes it possible to diagnose and identify the causes of such behavior in time, and to conduct appropriate treatment. It is easier to understand the reason for the non-standard behavior of the baby when he already knows how to speak. Often, children tend to fantasize, exaggerate, invent and describe non-existent things and phenomena so colorfully that sometimes parents may not attach any importance to this. But if at the same time the child has other signs that indicate a clearly unhealthy condition, then you should consult a doctor.

Symptoms of childhood psychosis include:

• elevated temperature;
• headache;
• speech disorders;
• developmental delay;
• dysmotility and other signs.

Therefore, parents need to carefully monitor how their baby develops. And in case of any doubt, it is better to play it safe and consult a doctor.

As for psychosis in an adult, this mental disorder can both stretch from childhood and be acquired as a result of a number of factors:

• alcoholism;
• severe psychological trauma;
• genetic predisposition.

Manifestations of psychosis in an adult can be hallucinations, delusional inferences, hysterical seizures, convulsions, delirium tremens attacks in people dependent on alcohol.

What is a neurosis?

Neurosis is a disease of the nervous system associated with its disorder.

How to distinguish between psychosis and neurosis? If psychosis is an irreversible disease in some cases, then in the treatment of neurosis, on the contrary, the outcome is more favorable and the patient can fully recover.

Treatment of psychosis in some cases is difficult, while neurosis is easier to eliminate with the help of certain techniques. The following are susceptible to psychosis:

• children whose parents abuse alcohol and drugs, psychotropic drugs or already suffer from psychosis;
• adults who have suffered psychological trauma in childhood;
• adults who use heavy drugs and others.

But if we talk about neurosis, then almost every person can be brought to this state, especially with a character and psyche less resistant to stressful situations. A neurosis can arise as a result of a nervous illness, a severe life shock, for example, the loss of a loved one, a break in relationships, stress, even some changes in life, physical overwork, heavy workload.

And this is not a complete list of the causes that lead to the emergence of neuroses. Neurosis makes itself felt when a person experiences an anxiety state, often cries and gets upset, he is visited by depressive thoughts, experiences, while these phenomena may be accompanied by frequent headaches, an increase or decrease in blood pressure.

However, if you pull yourself together in time, you can eliminate this problem. But, of course, it would not be superfluous to seek help from a neurologist who will give recommendations on how to treat a nervous condition.

What is the danger of psychosis and neurosis?

Let us immediately denote that these two human conditions are diseases that only a doctor can establish, since they differ from each other. Diseases are dangerous both for the patient himself and for people close to him, his family. Often, patients have seizures, and their behavior can be aggressive. This is expressed both in the use of physical force in a state of passion, inappropriate behavior, and in verbal abuse, so it is not easy for the patient's relatives to live with such a person. Thus, both psychosis and neurosis should be treated urgently.

Treatment and future prognosis

The treatment of psychosis is a process that depends on the nature and type of the disease, the timeliness of seeking help from a doctor.

The same situation is with the diagnosis and treatment of nervous diseases. The sooner you contact a specialist, the faster and more effective the treatment will be.

If you observe an unhealthy condition of a child, your adult relative or family member, or feel a deterioration in your health, but do not know which doctor to contact, first go for a consultation with a therapist who will write a referral for further examination by the right specialist.

What is the difference between psychosis and neurosis?

Among the numerous mental disorders, pathologies such as neurosis and psychosis are often observed. These violations have nothing in common, but at first they can be confused. What is the difference between neurosis and psychosis?

Causes of diseases

The reasons for the development of neuroses and psychoses are different. Therefore, they should be considered in turn. Reactive psychosis is a mental disorder, the essence of which lies in inadequate human behavior, a violation of the perception of reality, an unusual reaction to environmental factors.

Depending on the causes of psychosis, it is divided into several groups:

• Endogenous: appears due to a failure of neurohumoral regulation.
• Exogenous: occurs as a result of exposure to severe stress, the use of drugs, alcohol, the development of inflammatory processes in the nervous system, the penetration of infections.
• Organic: is formed due to the fact that the structure of the brain, blood circulation in it is disturbed.

Neurosis is a mental deviation, which implies the depletion of the nervous system due to prolonged exposure to stressful situations or psychological trauma from childhood.

The culprit for the development of this disorder may be factors such as poisoning the body with toxins, hereditary predisposition, damage to the brain and skull, adverse social or living conditions, regular experiences at home.

Differences in violations

At first glance, it may seem that these two mental disorders are very similar. But in fact, these are two completely different diseases. How do they differ from each other? The difference between neurosis and psychosis lies in the following facts:

Forms and clinical picture of neurosis

Neurosis can be of several forms, each of which has its own clinical manifestations. These are types like:

• Neurasthenia. It is also called chronic fatigue syndrome. It consists in the depletion of the nervous system, which is accompanied by irritability, soreness in the head, excessive fatigue, sleep disturbance.
• Hysteria. It is a disorder not only of the nervous, but also of the motor system. People with neurosis of this form have convulsive seizures, failure of speech function, inadequacy of emotional reactions.
• Fear. This form is characterized by constant anxiety or the development of a phobia.
• Obsessive state. This type of neurosis occurs in patients who are suspicious, excessive anxiety. Such people exhibit obsessive actions, thoughts, and memories.

Symptoms of psychosis

Reactive psychoses have slightly different symptoms. This disorder causes hallucinations, delusions. Also, in patients, the perception of the world around is disturbed, sensations change, emotional instability, and sudden mood swings are observed.

The movements of a person suffering from psychosis are chaotic, speech is incomprehensible, jerky. His state is similar to a person's sleep. Signs of the disease do not form immediately when the disorder occurs. The disease develops gradually.

Treatment of disorders

Neuroses and reactive psychoses are treated in different ways. Medications are prescribed quite rarely, only in severe forms of pathologies. Antidepressants and mild sedatives are commonly used.

A neurotic patient lives a normal life. In the event of an exacerbation of the disease, he can easily cope on his own, using sedatives, auto-training, controlling his thoughts.

Most often, the disorder can be eliminated by eliminating factors that provoke stress, lifestyle adjustments, good nutrition, vitamin therapy, good sleep, contact with positive and friendly people, prolonged exposure to fresh air, outdoors, and sports.

People with reactive psychoses cannot do without psychotherapy alone. In this case, patients are required to take serious medications that help to correct a person’s condition and eliminate the clinical picture of the pathology. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, normotimics and anticholinergics are mainly used.

After all the pronounced symptoms of a mental disorder are removed, the doctor may prescribe additional methods. These include psychoeducation, behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, occupational therapy, various trainings.

There is also a difference regarding the duration of treatment. It takes a lot of time to get rid of neuroses. Therapy can last several months or even years. In rare cases, the symptoms of the disease disappear on their own. Psychosis is not treated for so long, a maximum of a year.

In no case should it be ignored, since the human condition will only worsen. Trying to cure the disorder on your own will not work, because the patient cannot recognize the difference between reality and delusion.

Relatives should help in overcoming the disease. In most cases, it is relatives who notice that a person is behaving strangely and require examination. The patient himself cannot detect disturbances in his psyche.

It is not difficult for a doctor to determine that a patient has neurosis or psychosis. These conditions are completely different and their approach to treatment also differs.

Psychosis, neurosis, neurasthenia. Diagnosis and treatment

Whether we like it or not, emotions have an extremely strong power over us. Usually we can, by making a considerable effort on ourselves, pull ourselves together. In other cases, our psyche is out of control. And such diseases as psychosis, neurosis and neurasthenia appear.

Psychosis

Psychosis is a disorder of perception of the surrounding world, the inability to perceive life in the form in which it is seen by healthy people. Those who become ill with psychosis begin to see invisible images and hear otherworldly voices ordering them to perform this or that action.

It should be noted that psychosis is a fairly common disease. Approximately 5% of people on our planet suffer from this disease.

Causes of psychosis

According to doctors, there are 3 main causes of psychosis.

The first reason is heredity. There are many genetic diseases (such as schizophrenia) that can trigger the development of psychosis.

The second is acquired diseases that can cause psychosis. These are age-related changes in the body, stroke, brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, syphilis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, hormonal disorders, etc.

The third reason is taking medications, alcohol (alcoholic psychosis), drugs.

It happens that psychosis develops unexpectedly, as a result of some extreme incident (fire, earthquake, etc.), psychological trauma, as a result of poisoning with toxic fumes. This is reactive acute psychosis.

Symptoms of psychosis

The symptoms of psychosis are numerous and varied, let's focus on the most characteristic:

• thought disorder - delirium (delusion of searching for any diseases in oneself), delusion of persecution, delusion of life-threatening;
• movement disorder (the patient falls into a stupor, does not move, or, conversely, makes many unrelated movements);
• the occurrence of hallucinations (most often auditory, when a person hears otherworldly voices commanding him), there are also tactile, gustatory and olfactory hallucinations;
• manic state or depression.

The symptoms of the disease can add new qualities to the person's personality (positive disorder), as well as change the character, making the patient lethargic and passive (negative disorder). For example, in a manic state, the patient is overly talkative, performs uncontrolled actions, and is very active. In a state of depression, he will have low self-esteem, see life in dark colors, even think about suicide. There is also a mixed type: manic-depressive psychosis. In this case, manic phases with unexpectedly stormy mood and readiness to perform unpredictable actions are replaced by depressive periods full of pessimism.

Manic-depressive psychosis most often affects women (7 people out of a thousand).

Psychosis can become chronic. But if you consult a doctor in time and carry out adequate treatment of psychosis, you can achieve a positive result.

Neurosis

Neurosis is a long-term and chronic disorder of the nervous system with a change in the psycho-emotional state. The basis of neurosis is a violation of the brain function that is responsible for the adaptation of a person in a social environment. This disorder further causes mental and somatic disorders.

It should be distinguished: neurosis and neurotic state (or state of neurosis).

If the state of neurosis is a symptom that is treated fairly quickly and not always with medication, then neurosis is a serious disease, and in the treatment of neurosis, the doctor must include drugs in therapy.

Hysterical neurosis

Hysteria (or hysterical neurosis) is a mental illness that leads to somatovegetative and sensory abnormalities.

The clinic of this type of neurosis includes the following symptoms:

• depressed mood;
• a penchant for theatrical poses;
• clouding of consciousness;
• memory loss (amnesia);
• infantilism.

A person subject to hysteria may see vivid hallucinations. He begins to take them for real images, while often not remembering the events of his life, forgetting his own name and surname.

A person with hysterical neurosis may experience malfunctions in the work of the heart, respiratory disorders, and sexual function. As well as motor disorders, which are expressed in the appearance of convulsive seizures, paralysis, etc.

obsessive-compulsive disorder

The phenomenon of "obsessive states" was first described by the Russian physiologist Pavlov. In his opinion, obsessive states appear mainly in intelligent people.

A person with obsessive-compulsive disorders may develop various phobias, such as the fear of getting cancer (carcinophobia), the fear of going crazy (lyssophobia), the fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), the fear of sharp objects (oxyphobia), the fear of germs (misophobia), etc. To overcome these phobias, a person must constantly perform some kind of repetitive ritual (for example, wash their hands every minute), which leads to temporary relief.

In addition, the patient is irritable, he has insomnia, difficulty with attention.

The main mental manifestations in obsessive-compulsive disorder:

• manifestation of various complexes;
• severe irritability and rapid mood swings;
• emotional stress, expressed through obsessive actions and thoughts;
• fixation on their difficulties, instability to stress;
• fast fatiguability;
• strong feelings even for a small reason.

Quite often there is such a condition as obsessive neurosis. It is characterized by the appearance of difficulties with swallowing food, loss of appetite, heaviness in the abdomen after eating. Over time, people with obsessive neurosis develop other manifestations of the disease: impaired activity, somatovegetative disorders, fears and phobias, and constant fatigue.

Neurasthenia

Neurasthenia manifests itself as a weakening of nervous activity as a result of nervous tension or severe fatigue. The following symptoms of neurasthenia can be distinguished:

• unstable distracted attention, poor assimilation and memorization of information;
• dizziness and headaches (“neurasthenic helmet”);
• incontinence, irritability, fussiness - a person is trying to engage in vigorous activity against the background of general weakness;
• insomnia and sleep disturbance at night and drowsiness during the day;
• autonomic disorders: constipation, flatulence, heaviness in the abdomen, belching, chest pain;
• frequently changing mood and unstable mental reactions;
• decrease in sexual function.

According to Academician Pavlov, neurasthenia goes through 3 stages in its development:

1 stage of neurasthenia: increased irritability and excitability;

Stage 2: an increase in nerve impulses from the autonomic nervous system;

Stage 3: the appearance of inhibition processes in the nervous system, which is expressed in drowsiness, lethargy, bad mood.

What is the difference between neurosis and psychosis

Neurosis and psychosis have very little in common, although at the very beginning of the disease they can indeed be confused. But when a person is afraid of getting cancer, feels sad or sleeps badly, no one will suspect that he is sick. But if the symptoms manifest themselves brightly, everyone can distinguish psychosis from neurosis.

Common and different in the symptoms of neurosis and psychosis

Despite the attitude of society towards these diseases as similar, psychoses and neuroses have little in common. However, both cause the following symptoms:

1. Sleep disorder.
2. Increased or decreased appetite.
3. Headache.
4. Increased fatigue.
5. Decline in social and professional activity.
6. Decreased concentration.

Patients may suffer from insomnia or sleep too much, suffer from lack of appetite or overeating. But if in neurosis these symptoms are relatively weakly expressed and do not prevent a person from fulfilling social roles, then in psychosis, insomnia and lack of appetite reach their climax.

Also characterized by increased fatigue, headaches. But the neurotic, in addition to this, feels pain in other parts of the body, palpitations, nervous tics, trembling in the limbs, dizziness and a feeling of tension in the muscles. In psychosis, mental symptoms are more likely than physical ones - hallucinations, a feeling of being watched, intense fears, an unexpected change of interests, carelessness in clothing and uncleanliness.

A patient with psychosis perceives the world subjectively, through the prism of delusions and hallucinations. Speech and movements change, confusion appears. Phobias are often present in neurosis, but the person himself is well aware of them, tries to fight them, and can even successfully hide them from others for years. In turn, psychotic phobias become decisive in the way of life of patients, and are perceived by them as an objective reality.

The man seriously believes that the secret services are following him, and all the cats on the street want to kill him.

In general, the neurotic looks like a healthy person, only a little insecure, anxious and sad, and the psychotic, as soon as he starts talking, makes a frightening impression and loses the ability to interact with the world. Externally, neuroses and reactive psychoses, depressive, manic-depressive and others differ very markedly.

Causes and manifestations

A neurosis is based on a subjectively traumatic event, internal/external conflict, or prolonged stress. The causes of psychosis can be heredity, brain injury, infectious disease, intoxication, central nervous system disease, brain tumor, bronchial asthma, mineral deficiency, hormonal imbalance, or severe mental trauma associated with danger to life.

Neurosis is felt by a person as an uncomfortable condition, but outwardly the patient looks normal. The disease is manifested by disorders of the vegetative-vascular system, unpleasant mental states - fears, obsessions, irritability. Psychosis, on the other hand, is not realized by the person himself, and is accompanied by serious mental disorders that are clearly visible from the outside. Fear becomes the main driving force, and irritability manifests itself as aggression, dangerous for the surrounding people or for the patient himself.

Neuroses do not fundamentally change the personality, a person remains himself, fulfills his social roles and makes attempts to recover. He correctly assesses his condition and likes to analyze his feelings. And a person with psychosis loses his personal qualities, ceases to adequately perceive the world and cannot interact normally with people. The ability to reflect and self-criticism in psychosis is close to zero.

Treatment

Given the numerous features, the treatment of psychoses and neuroses is completely different. With neurosis, Gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the psychodrama method give good results. Medications are rarely prescribed, and only in particularly difficult cases. Antidepressants and mild sedatives are most commonly used.

A patient with neurosis continues his normal life, and can help himself with an exacerbation of the disease with the help of auto-training, thought control, light sedative drugs. In most cases, the elimination of the stress factor, lifestyle changes, good nutrition, vitamin intake, sleep patterns, communication with friendly people, being in nature, sports and recreation help.

Psychosis cannot be treated with psychotherapy alone, although psychotherapy is also used in treatment.

Serious drugs are needed to correct the patient's condition and relieve severe symptoms of depression, hallucinations, phobias, mania or delusions. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, normotimics and anticholinergics are used.

After removing the acute symptoms of psychosis, additional methods are used:

• group therapy,
• psychoeducation (education of relatives and friends),
• behavioral Therapy,
• addiction therapy,
• psychoanalysis,
• occupational therapy (domestic work),
• family Therapy,
• art therapy,
• social competence training,
• metacognitive training (aimed at correcting thinking errors that exacerbate symptoms of psychosis).

The treatment of neurosis can drag on for months and years, however, sometimes the symptoms of the disease go away on their own. In this case, the patient has a good chance to help himself on his own. Treatment of psychosis, on the contrary, is short-term, from 1.5 to 12 months, but without attention to the disease, the patient's condition worsens. The sick themselves are not able to help themselves, because they are unable to distinguish reality from delirium. Therefore, next to the patient should be loving people. It is they who notice the unhealthy behavior of a psychotic patient and insist on treatment, and then they monitor whether the disease has returned.

During the period of treatment, the patient with neurosis continues to lead a normal life, go to work. Restorative sanatorium-and-spa treatment is shown. Treatment of psychosis takes place on the basis of a hospital, the patient is monitored by doctors. Treatment at home is impossible, since the patient's relatives cannot ensure compliance with the regimen of taking and dosages of drugs, as well as assess changes in his condition.

Thus, psychosis is fundamentally different from neurosis in terms of symptoms, causes, course and methods of treatment. By the way, psychiatrists say that neurosis never turns into psychosis, the sick people have such different qualities of the psyche.

In the video, the psychiatrist tells how to determine what torments the patient - neurosis or psychosis.

Neurosis and psychosis have very little in common, although at the very beginning of the disease they can indeed be confused. But when a person is afraid of getting cancer, feels sad or sleeps badly, no one will suspect that he is sick. But if the symptoms manifest themselves brightly, everyone can distinguish psychosis from neurosis.

Despite the attitude of society towards these diseases as similar, psychoses and neuroses have little in common. However, both cause the following symptoms:

1. Sleep disorder.
2. Increased or decreased appetite.
3. Headache.
4. Increased fatigue.
5. Decline in social and professional activity.
6. Decreased concentration.

Patients may suffer from insomnia or sleep too much, suffer from lack of appetite or overeating. But if in neurosis these symptoms are relatively weakly expressed and do not prevent a person from fulfilling social roles, then in psychosis, insomnia and lack of appetite reach their climax.

Also characterized by increased fatigue, headaches. But the neurotic, in addition to this, feels pain in other parts of the body, palpitations, nervous tics, trembling in the limbs, dizziness and a feeling of tension in the muscles. In psychosis, mental symptoms are more likely than physical ones - hallucinations, a feeling of being watched, intense fears, an unexpected change of interests, carelessness in clothing and uncleanliness.

A patient with psychosis perceives the world subjectively, through the prism of delusions and hallucinations. Speech and movements change, confusion appears. Phobias are often present in neurosis, but the person himself is well aware of them, tries to fight them, and can even successfully hide them from others for years. In turn, psychotic phobias become decisive in the way of life of patients, and are perceived by them as an objective reality.

The man seriously believes that the secret services are following him, and all the cats on the street want to kill him.

In general, the neurotic looks like a healthy person, only a little insecure, anxious and sad, and the psychotic, as soon as he starts talking, makes a frightening impression and loses the ability to interact with the world. Externally, neuroses and reactive psychoses, depressive, manic-depressive and others differ very markedly.

Causes and manifestations

A neurosis is based on a subjectively traumatic event, internal/external conflict, or prolonged stress. The causes of psychosis can be heredity, brain injury, infectious disease, intoxication, central nervous system disease, brain tumor, bronchial asthma, mineral deficiency, hormonal imbalance, or severe mental trauma associated with danger to life.

Neurosis is felt by a person as an uncomfortable condition, but outwardly the patient looks normal. The disease is manifested by disorders of the vegetative-vascular system, unpleasant mental states - fears, obsessions, irritability. Psychosis, on the other hand, is not realized by the person himself, and is accompanied by serious mental disorders that are clearly visible from the outside. Fear becomes the main driving force, and irritability manifests itself as aggression, dangerous for the surrounding people or for the patient himself.

Neuroses do not fundamentally change the personality, a person remains himself, fulfills his social roles and makes attempts to recover. He correctly assesses his condition and likes to analyze his feelings. And a person with psychosis loses his personal qualities, ceases to adequately perceive the world and cannot interact normally with people. The ability to reflect and self-criticism in psychosis is close to zero.

Treatment

Given the numerous features, the treatment of psychoses and neuroses is completely different. With neurosis, Gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the psychodrama method give good results. Medications are rarely prescribed, and only in particularly difficult cases. Antidepressants and mild sedatives are most commonly used.

A patient with neurosis continues his normal life, and can help himself with an exacerbation of the disease with the help of auto-training, thought control, light sedative drugs. In most cases, the elimination of the stress factor, lifestyle changes, good nutrition, vitamin intake, sleep patterns, communication with friendly people, being in nature, sports and recreation help.

Psychosis cannot be treated with psychotherapy alone, although psychotherapy is also used in treatment.

Serious drugs are needed to correct the patient's condition and relieve severe symptoms of depression, hallucinations, phobias, mania or delusions. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, normotimics and anticholinergics are used.

After removing the acute symptoms of psychosis, additional methods are used:

• group therapy,
• psychoeducation (education of relatives and friends),
• behavioral Therapy,
• addiction therapy,
• psychoanalysis,
• occupational therapy (domestic work),
• family Therapy,
• art therapy,
• social competence training,
• metacognitive training (aimed at correcting thinking errors that exacerbate symptoms of psychosis).

The treatment of neurosis can drag on for months and years, however, sometimes the symptoms of the disease go away on their own. In this case, the patient has a good chance to help himself on his own. Treatment of psychosis, on the contrary, is short-term, from 1.5 to 12 months, but without attention to the disease, the patient's condition worsens. The sick themselves are not able to help themselves, because they are unable to distinguish reality from delirium. Therefore, next to the patient should be loving people. It is they who notice the unhealthy behavior of a psychotic patient and insist on treatment, and then they monitor whether the disease has returned.

During the period of treatment, the patient with neurosis continues to lead a normal life, go to work. Restorative sanatorium-and-spa treatment is shown. Treatment of psychosis takes place on the basis of a hospital, the patient is monitored by doctors. Treatment at home is impossible, since the patient's relatives cannot ensure compliance with the regimen of taking and dosages of drugs, as well as assess changes in his condition.

Thus, psychosis is fundamentally different from neurosis in terms of symptoms, causes, course and methods of treatment. By the way, psychiatrists say that neurosis never turns into psychosis, the sick people have such different qualities of the psyche.

In the video, the psychiatrist tells how to determine what torments the patient - neurosis or psychosis.