Mental Health Psychotic Disorders Psychosis vs. Schizophrenia: What's the Difference? By Heather Jones Heather Jones Facebook Twitter Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 06, 2022 Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Psychosis? What Is Schizophrenia? Symptoms Treatment Frequently Asked Questions Psychosis and schizophrenia are both associated with mental health but they have some important differences. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but psychosis and schizophrenia are not the same. Psychosis is a symptom that's defined as "losing touch with reality." Signs can include hallucinations, delusions, and agitation. It may be caused by substance use, sleep deprivation, or conditions like schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that can cause psychosis. People living with schizophrenia can experience symptoms of psychosis but not all people experiencing psychosis have schizophrenia. This article explains the differences between psychosis and schizophrenia and addresses how they are linked. It will also cover the symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated. Laura Porter / Verywell An Overview of Psychosis What Is Psychosis? Psychosis means that a person is feeling a loss of contact with reality. A period of psychosis is called a psychotic episode. A psychotic episode can occur on its own. However, people can also develop psychosis from a specific cause, including: Certain prescription medications (e.g., sedatives, stimulants) Medical conditions (e.g., dementia, HIV, Parkinson's disease, brain tumor, or stroke) Mental health conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or delusional disorder) Sleep deprivation Substance use (e.g., alcohol, cocaine) Psychosis can be limited to one episode. However, people with certain conditions can have recurring psychotic episodes. What Are Psychotic Disorders? What Is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects a person's thought processes, emotions, and behavior. Psychotic symptoms can be part of living with schizophrenia. Cognitive symptoms such as trouble processing information or loss of motivation that makes it hard to do everyday activities can also occur with the condition. Schizophrenia occurs in stages. The length of each stage differs from person to person, but the phases tend to occur in sequence and may recur throughout a person's life. Prodromal phase: This phase can last from weeks to years. The symptoms during this phase develop gradually and include the loss of interest in activities, social withdrawal, or difficulty concentrating. A person may also have an intense fixation with ideas or subjects. Active phase: The acute stage of schizophrenia is when psychotic symptoms occur. The symptoms can come on gradually after a prodromal phase or appear suddenly. Residual phase: During this period, a person's symptoms have reduced, but they may still feel withdrawn and have trouble focusing. An Overview of Schizophrenia Psychosis vs. Schizophrenia: Symptoms Psychosis is itself a symptom of a mental health condition, including schizophrenia. Psychosis can also occur along with other symptoms that usually come on gradually. Psychosis Other symptoms associated with psychosis include: Agitation: This describes an excessive physical movement or verbal activity. Symptoms of agitation can also include emotional distress, restlessness, or pacing. Delusions: Delusions are false beliefs that are not based on reality. A person having delusions will not change their beliefs even when given evidence that a belief is false. For example, believing that a famous person is in love with them despite never meeting that person. Disorganized thinking or behavior: Disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia are things like jumbled or hard-to-understand speech, writing, or thinking. These symptoms can make it difficult for someone to communicate with others and keep their thoughts straight. Hallucinations: Hallucinations occur when a person senses things that are not really there. This can include hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and feeling things that feel real to them, but are not. Psychosis: Early Warning Signs Sometimes, there are early "warning signs" that someone is going to experience psychosis, including:Difficulty focusingA decline in overall hygieneInappropriate or lack of emotional responseWithdrawing from others Are Hallucinations Always a Sign of Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia The symptoms of schizophrenia are important to making a diagnosis of the condition. A person living with schizophrenia may experience: Delusions Hallucinations Disorganized speech Disorganized or catatonic behavior (e.g., restlessness, lack of movement, and/or erratic movement) Negative symptoms (e.g., minimal or no emotional expression and lack of motivation) What Is the Schizophrenia Spectrum? Some people living with schizophrenia experience psychotic symptoms, such as: Paranoia (for example, believing that they are being spied on or being controlled by outside forces) A belief that others can read their thoughts Believing that ordinary events hold special meaning specifically to them (e.g., that a person is sending them messages through the television) Delusions of grandeur (e.g., believing they are of great importance, are very powerful, or have special powers) Hearing noises or voices that are not there (e.g., hearing voices telling them to do certain things) Switching quickly from subject to subject when speaking Making up words Discussing ideas that seem unrelated Having difficulty performing everyday tasks such as self-care and hygiene Difficulty planning Experiencing symptoms of catatonia (e.g., physical rigidity, repetitive movements, or lack of a response to their environment) Schizophrenia is diagnosed only when a person experiences delusions, hallucinations, and/or disorganized speech, as well as meets other criteria. What Is Disorganized Schizophrenia? Psychosis vs. Schizophrenia: Treatment Psychosis can be a symptom of schizophrenia. Therefore, some of the treatments for schizophrenia and psychosis can overlap. Your provider will help you decide which treatment options are best for you. Psychosis Early treatment for psychosis is very important to help someone recover. Treatment for psychosis depends on the cause but often involves antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy. Antipsychotics might work by blocking the effects of the overactivity of a brain chemical called dopamine. This chemical affects emotions, planning, and memory. The overactivity of dopamine is thought to contribute to psychotic symptoms. Antipsychotic drugs generally fall into one of two categories: atypical or typical. Atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotics: These medications inhibit dopamine action and affect levels of serotonin (a chemical related to mood). They are usually the first choice to treat schizophrenia. Typical, or first-generation, antipsychotics: These antipsychotics inhibit dopamine activity but do not affect serotonin. Antipsychotic medications work differently for each person and may cause side effects. It's important that you discuss the risks and benefits with your provider. You should also know that antipsychotic medications can take up to six weeks to reach their full effect. However, they may start to reduce symptoms of psychosis within hours or days. When taken long-term, antipsychotics can help prevent future psychotic episodes. Never stop taking an antipsychotic medication without talking to your provider. Abruptly stopping can be dangerous and lead to withdrawal symptoms. Psychotherapy can also be used to help people who are experiencing psychosis. Therapy can be done individually or in a group, and may involve building coping skills, wellness management, and resilience training. Are Delusions a Sign of Psychosis? Schizophrenia Treatments for schizophrenia will also likely include both medications and psychotherapy. Common schizophrenia treatments include: Antipsychotic drugs: These medications are used to treat psychosis, which includes symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Providers will prescribe the best medication combination and dosage for each person. Psychosocial treatments: Therapy is used alongside medication to help a person living with schizophrenia manage symptoms and handle activities at school, work, and home. One type of therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps a person learn to modify their behaviors by recognizing and changing thought patterns. Coordinated specialty care: In these programs, a person living with schizophrenia works with healthcare providers to make a plan of treatment, usually when they are still in the early stages of the condition. The treatment plan may include medication, psychotherapy, case management, education support, employment support, and family education. Drug and alcohol treatment: Misusing substances like drugs and alcohol is common in people living with schizophrenia. A drug or alcohol rehabilitation program that's designed specifically for people with mental health conditions might be recommended. Can Schizophrenia Be Treated? Summary Psychosis is a symptom that refers to a loss of touch with reality. Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that has many symptoms, and psychosis can be one of them. People living with schizophrenia often have psychotic symptoms. However, all people experiencing psychotic symptoms do not necessarily have schizophrenia. Treatment for both psychosis and schizophrenia usually includes antipsychotic medication and psychotherapy. The combination of treatments will be based on what's best for each person. Frequently Asked Questions Can you be schizophrenic without psychosis? No, at least one symptom must be associated with psychosis to have a schizophrenia diagnosis.According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5), you need to meet two of five diagnostic criteria. Four of these criteria are signs of psychosis—delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and disorganized behavior. Learn More: What Is a Schizophrenia Test? Is psychosis a lifelong illness? Psychosis is not an illness by itself but can be a symptom of another condition. Some of those conditions are lifelong, such as schizophrenia.It's also possible for someone to experience psychosis temporarily. For example, going through a traumatic event, being under extreme stress, or using substances (for example, hallucinogens like LSD) can lead to psychosis. In these cases, the symptom will go away with time as a person recovers from the event or stress, or when they stop using a substance. What Is Drug-Induced Schizophrenia? 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Mental Health. RAISE Questions and Answers. MedlinePlus. Psychosis. Yale School of Medicine. Phases of Psychosis. National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia. Centre For Addiction and Mental Health. Schizophrenia: An Information Guide. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Psychosis. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. National Institute of Mental Health. Understanding Psychosis. Centre For Addiction and Mental Health. Antipsychotic Medication. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 3.22, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Schizophrenia Comparison. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Schizophrenia. National Alliance on Mental Health. Understanding Psychotic Breaks. By Heather Jones Heather M. Jones is a freelance writer with a strong focus on health, parenting, disability, and feminism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit