PSY 410
April 15, 2013

Psychosis Although psychosis is listed as a mental disorder, it is more of a form of schizophrenia. Psychosis is one symptom which may be detected in many different mental illnesses. It can also be the result of some physical illnesses. Individuals who suffer from psychosis, experience hallucinations, such as hearing or seeing nonexistent items. Psychosis causes the individual to change the way in which they think, feel, and perceive things, as well as behave. The difference between psychoses and schizophrenia is that psychosis is only a symptom, whereas schizophrenia is an illness. Schizophrenia Those who suffer from schizophrenia are often seen as suffering from a madness or insanity. Schizophrenia has five subtypes, with individuals being diagnosed with a subtype by their most prominently occurring symptoms. However, symptoms can often change over time and therefore, an individual’s subtype may change as well. The five subtypes are: ● Paranoid Type Schizophrenia presents by an individual exhibiting hallucinations and delusions, usually auditory hallucinations and delusions of persecution or conspiracy. These hallucinations usually revolve around a consistent theme. These individuals are able to function at a higher level than other schizophrenics, with less disordered thinking and behavior. This type of schizophrenia is often less obvious to observers. ● Disorganized Type individuals have diffculty with organization of their thought processes, often with emotional impairment and difficulty communicating effectively. Hallucinations and delusions are either absent or less pronounced than in paranoid schizophrenia. This disorder develops slowly and at an earlier age than other subtypes. This individual may have significant difficulty with tasks related to daily living, bathing and