Private Clinic for Psychoses

In general, psychosis is distinguished by positive symptoms and negative symptoms.
Positive symptoms involve “something being added.” A typical positive symptom is thought disorder, such as hallucinations. Patients may hear, see, feel, or taste things that do not correspond to reality. Delusions are also characteristic. Unlike hallucinations, delusions represent a misinterpretation of reality.
Negative symptoms involve “something being lost.” Thinking becomes slower, less effective, and mentally exhausting. Patients may experience lack of concentration, confusion, or a reduced vocabulary. Motivation decreases. Some individuals feel lethargic and tired, withdraw socially, and neglect their personal care.

Psychoses are generally distinguished between primary psychosis and secondary psychosis.
Primary Psychosis
In primary psychosis, no physical cause can be identified. The most common form is schizophrenia. The term means “split consciousness” and expresses that healthy and impaired perceptions of reality coexist. For example, someone affected may simultaneously love a close person while feeling threatened by them.
Other psychotic disorders can also occur and are associated with different conditions. These include affective psychoses, which primarily affect mood and motivation. They can occur in conditions such as psychotic depression, mania, or bipolar disorder.
Primary psychosis can be treated effectively today, and with appropriate therapy, many patients experience a favorable course of the illness.
Secondary Psychosis
Secondary psychosis results from an organic cause, often due to temporary or permanent brain damage. Its course and prognosis depend on how well the underlying condition can be treated. Secondary psychoses can arise from:

• Diseases such as dementia, epilepsy, brain tumors, infections, injuries, or metabolic disorders
• Side effects of medications
• Use of psychostimulants, such as alcohol and certain drugs (especially cannabis and LSD)

In primary psychoses, multiple disease-triggering components often interact. These primarily include biological-genetic and psychosocial factors.
A secondary psychosis is caused by an underlying medical condition, medication side effects, or substance use.