What is a hospital psychosis?

The hospital environment can be very stressful for patients; They are often sick or in pain, or both, they feel helpless and are in an unknown environment with people they don't know. The combination of this, combined with insufficient sleep and sensory deprivation caused by lack of sunlight and movement, can lead to a state known as psychosis of the hospital, ICU psychosis or ICU syndrome. This is a form of delirium, a combination of symptoms that indicate the state of serious mental confusion. Those who experience it often state that they have hallucinations, carefree or confused speech and loss of memory.

Symptoms

disorientation, paranoia, anxiety and restlessness can be a sign of hospital psychosis. The patient may also suffer from hallucinations, confusion and nightmares. Sometimes people behave in non -characteristic ways; For example, a social and spoken person can resign from others or a kind, well -behaved individual could become a difficult, irrationally angre, and even combat. MohOU also pull catheters or intravenous (IV) lines, fight nurses and other carers and try to leave the hospital. In serious cases, the suffering can even believe that his medical team is trying to hurt rather than help, he or other patients.

Risk Factors and Outlook

Critically ill patients, especially those who are in intensive care (ICU), are more likely to develop hospital psychosis, as well as older patients. Research shows that more than 80% of patients on the fan helping them breathe can experience delirium, and people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) seem to be particularly sensitive. Patients who develop delirium may also have a lower recovery rate; Often they have to stay in the hospital longer and have higher mortality after six months.

diagnosis

Hospital psychosis can be progressed when the symptoms of patientsThis cannot be explained by other medical causes. It is possible that some or all symptoms could be caused by the effects of drugs or anesthesia or health, such as blood infections, dehydration and reduced heart activity. Low oxygen levels can also bring disorientation and rude speech. Doctors are sometimes uncomfortable to say that the patient has hospital psychosis, because this means that other possible causes - some of which could be life -threatening - may not be fully explored.

Link to Sleep Disruption

During the hospital, many patients complain that they do not receive sufficient peaceful sleep due to ignorance of the environment and constant activities in the environment. Periodic nurses checks that monitor vital symptoms or drug administration can also prevent the patient's ability to get enough rest. Lack of peaceful sleep can lead to hallucinations or confused speech, which Appear more like the early Alzheimer's disease than a real psychotic break.

lIdes who do not receive normal day and night light allusions - because they are in a day without windows - they can develop another state called Sundowners syndrome. It is especially common in older individuals. As the name suggests, this is caused by abnormal sleep and alert cycles and is reportedly common not only in hospitals, but also in nursing homes and long -term care facilities. His symptoms include upset, anxiety and even delirium.

Psychosis of the hospital is not a mental illness

Health experts generally agree that psychosis of the hospital does not necessarily evidence of a more serious psychiatric condition. This is better described as a mental state induced primarily by the act of being in a hospital environment over time, not a mental illness. Visitors and carers may notice significant changes in the patient's behavior after a few days; In rare cases, this may take less time to develop symptoms.

may be scary to see irrationally orA completely disconnected act of a beloved person from reality, but it is important that family members know that the sufferers cannot control their behavior. Many patients with depressing sleep or anxiety may not realize that they are confused or deceptive, much less why. During clearer moments, however, they can regret what they have done or said when they experienced an episode.

Control and treatment

Sometimes the presence of well -known people and even things can help someone with this situation focus on the "real world" for a few minutes. Visits of friends and family members can help patients in contact with the world outside the hospital and feel less isolated and anxious. For some suffering, regular contact, such as this, can keep them connected with reality, but others may require more intervention.

If drugs or treatment contribute to psychosis, it may be possible to change them and reduce some symptoms. Many times, however, specific treatment is medically necessary and cannot be changed. Keep the patient wellAttached and pain levels under control can also help reduce delirium. In some cases, anti-psychotic drugs may be administered to the patient to act against disconnecting its reality. Sedatives can also be provided, although their use should be carefully monitored, as such drugs can only cause the patient's confusion.

Reducing noise and disturbance during the night can help patients with sleep problems. Symptoms may also reduce the determination of regular schedule day and night; This may include ensuring that the patient is aware of the day of the week and the time of day, along with visual stimuli, such as witnesses coordinated with day and night cycle. In some cases, it can simply move the patient into a room with windows to cause symptoms to reduce or even disappear.

temporary state

even without treatment, most of the symptoms of psychosis of the hospital disappear and the personality of the suffering returns to normal soon after they return home. One third or more patients on ICAfter leaving the hospital, they report some long -term cognitive damage, including problems with attention and memory, and many people are depressed. After staying in a hospital, which included Deliria episodes, family and friends visits can help suffering from feeling calm and back to normal.

Any changes in the patient's behavior or cognitive skills during the hospital stay should be reported to their health team. These changes could be caused by a serious health and should not be attributed to the hospital psychosis until all other causes are excluded. Although the physician diagnoses a patient who has this condition, he may decide not to treat mild to medium cases so that he does not touch the suffering.