Clinical Management of Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders constitute a spectrum of mental illnesses that include symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and/or disorganized thinking and behavior. Although some psychoses are short-term and reversible conditions, schizophrenia is the prototypical illness, which often develops in young adulthood and is typically chronic in its course. A complete medical and psychiatric evaluation is necessary to evaluate patients presenting with psychotic symptoms and to differentiate primary from secondary causes. Treatment of psychosis includes treatment of identifiable causal conditions, acute management of potentially harmful behaviors, prescribing antipsychotic medication, and psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions. A variety of antipsychotic medications are available for treatment, which must be individualized to maximize symptom reduction and to minimize short-term and long-term side effects. Long-acting injectable medications are available to improve medication adherence. In some cases, medications to counteract side effects may need to be prescribed. In more severe cases, electroconvulsive therapy may be indicated. Psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy can r