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Psychosis & Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is sometimes accompanied by psychosis. If psychosis is part of bipolar, it can present at either end of the bipolar spectrum, either in the depression or the mania.

  1. Bipolar Type II and Psychosis

    • One of the distinguishing features of Type II bipolar disorder includes full blown mania with psychosis, which may include hallucinations or delusions of grandeur. Other types of psychotic symptoms may present as feeling as if someone is watching, hearing voices, or seeing people or images that are not really there. If someone you know is experiencing psychosis, it is important to seek immediate medical attention and treatment.

    Diagnosis

    • Sometimes it can take six months or longer to properly diagnose bipolar disorder due to the variable rate of cycling that comes with the illness. About 75 percent of all manic episodes present with some form of delusion of grandeur, which makes it difficult to distinguished from schizophrenia. At the height of a manic episode, an individual may present in such a way that it is impossible to distinguish from paranoid schizophrenia.

    Schizoaffective Disorder

    • Schizoaffective Disorder is the combination of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, such as bipolar. One way to distinguish schizoaffective disorder is if psychotic symptoms persist for two weeks or more, but without any mood symptoms such as mania or depression.

    Involving Mental Health Professionals

    • Psychotherapy can help provide treatment for an individual suffering from bipolar and psychosis as well as medication management. It is important to understand that it can take up to several years to find the correct medication regimen, which includes both the right combination of medications as well as the correct dosages for each medication. Therapists can also help patients to identify when psychotic thought or behavioral patterns are beginning to emerge, so that the patient can implement effective coping skills.

    Support Systems

    • Having other support systems besides medication alone is the best way to cope with bipolar. In addition to using specific coping skills for both the depression and manic episodes, support groups, community resources, and other activities can help when dealing with bipolar. Keeping a journal can help track moods and even help predict upcoming mood swings at either end of the bipolar spectrum.

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