Abstract
When we talk about psychosis and psychotic disorders, we have in mind patients with disorganized thinking, mental retardation, delusions, and other similar symptoms associated with damage to the brain's normal functioning. Psychosis, however, is not the only cause of dysfunction, the abnormal functioning of the brain. The onset of psychosis may be due to psychological factors, with stress to be one of the main factors. Psychological and environmental factors interact with biological ones creating fertile ground for the development of psychosis. Anxiety, stress, depression, immigration, social stress, and consequently stressful life events are the leading causes of a psychotic episode. In this article, we will try to examine the following parameters: 1) what are the psychological-environmental factors that contribute to the onset of psychosis, and 2) what is their relationship with biological factors.
Highlights
Psychosis or psychotic disorder is defined as a psychiatric condition that describes a mental state long intertwined with hallucinations, delusions, and constant mental retardation
In this article we elaborate the psychological and environmental factors that are associated with the onset of psychosis
Stress is joint in patients with psychosis, and its treatment can improve their quality of life
Summary
Patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders exhibit HYE dysfunction, such as high levels of cortisol and adenocorticotropic hormone, increased cortisol response to pharmacological challenges, and possibly glucocorticoid receptor abnormalities. Some studies have reported that people with schizophrenia who experience depression or high levels of adverse symptoms are more likely to experience non-suppression of cortisol with the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) by psychotic individuals without any of these symptom profiles. The duration of psychotic symptoms was negatively correlated with cortisol levels in one study, and HYE axis hyperactivity has been reported more consistently in patients who have recently been hospitalized or are experiencing their first psychotic episode as opposed to patients with chronic disease. Treatment of Cushing's disease and subsequent reduction in cortisol levels are associated with increased hippocampal volume
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