Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality, typically including delusions (false ideas about what is taking place or who one is) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things which aren't there).
Alternative Names:
Psychotic
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Psychosis is a severe mental condition characterized by a loss of contact with reality. There are numerous potential causes:
dementia (Alzheimer's and other degenerative brain disorders)
stroke
Review Date: 5/4/2004
Reviewed By: Ram Chandran Kalyanam, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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