Psychosis
Pronunciation: sy-KOH-sis
A clinical state characterised by a loss of contact with reality, typically manifesting as hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, or grossly disorganised behavior.
Full Definition
Psychosis is a symptom cluster rather than a standalone diagnosis, and it can occur across multiple psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder with psychotic features, and substance-induced disorders. In community psychiatry documentation, the term describes a client's clinical presentation and informs level-of-care decisions. Editors must distinguish 'psychosis' (the symptom state) from 'psychotic disorder' (a diagnostic category) and ensure the two are not used interchangeably. The adjective form is 'psychotic,' not 'psychotic episode' as a collapsed noun (i.e., 'she presented in psychosis' is preferred over 'she had a psychosis').
Usage
Usage note: Do not use 'psychosis' and 'psychotic disorder' interchangeably. 'Psychosis' is a symptom state; 'psychotic disorder' is a diagnostic category. Avoid the colloquial 'psychotic break' in formal clinical documents.
In Context
- "The client was referred for urgent evaluation following the onset of acute psychosis." — Crisis referral document
- "Editors should note that 'first-episode psychosis' is the preferred clinical phrase, not 'first psychotic break.'" — Editorial style guide for clinical publishing