Acute Psychotic Disorder Treatment
Understanding Acute Psychotic Disorders
Trauma and stress are underlying causes in numerous psychiatric conditions. However, in certain instances, acute stressors and traumatic events precipitate a transient psychotic episode known as an acute psychotic disorder, or brief psychotic disorder. While significant or severe stress may act as a trigger, individuals typically do not possess an underlying psychiatric illness or medical condition at the time of onset.
The emergence of acute psychotic disorder is abrupt, with psychotic symptoms persisting for at least one day but not exceeding four weeks. Onset may occur up to two weeks following a traumatic or stressful event, or postpartum in women. The first episode of psychosis predominantly manifests during late adolescence or early adulthood, though it can also occur in individuals in their 30s or 40s.
The emergence of acute psychotic disorder is abrupt, with psychotic symptoms persisting for at least one day but not exceeding four weeks. Onset may occur up to two weeks following a traumatic or stressful event, or postpartum in women. The first episode of psychosis predominantly manifests during late adolescence or early adulthood, though it can also occur in individuals in their 30s or 40s.
Patients with comorbidities—defined as the coexistence of two or more medical conditions—are at heightened risk for exhibiting particular psychotic symptoms. Most individuals experiencing a singular episode achieve complete remission following treatment with antipsychotic medications and remain symptom-free thereafter. Nonetheless, some may experience recurrences, especially when exposed to psychosocial stressors.
Differential diagnosis necessitates the exclusion of other causes, such as:
Differential diagnosis necessitates the exclusion of other causes, such as:
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Mood disorders with psychotic features (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder)
- Delusional disorder
Additionally, it is essential to rule out:
- Substance use-induced psychosis, precipitated by hallucinogens, cannabinoids, stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine, alcohol, or inhalants
- Medication-induced psychosis, triggered by agents such as certain chemotherapies, antiparkinsonian drugs, corticosteroids, or antibiotics.
- Medical conditions, including neurological disorders like dementia, traumatic brain injury, or autoimmune illnesses; Parkinson’s disease, psychosis, often related to pharmacotherapy, dementia, or delirium
Diagnosing acute psychotic disorder poses challenges due to symptom overlap with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The primary distinction lies in symptom duration: acute psychotic episodes last from one to six months.
Underlying Factors of Acute Psychotic Disorders
While the precise cause of acute psychotic disorders remains elusive, precipitating factors are frequently linked to traumatic (e.g., sexual assault, physical violence) or stressful (e.g., bereavement, natural disasters) life events. Emerging research suggests genetic predispositions, environmental influences, and neurobiological abnormalities may also contribute. Potential diagnostic criteria include:
- Symptom onset subsequent to a stressful or traumatic event perceived as highly stressful
- Presence of neurological irregularities
- Familial history of psychiatric illnesses
- Symptom emergence in the absence of a significant stressor, yet within a cultural context that deems it stressful
- Onset within four weeks postpartum, known as postpartum psychosis
The relative rarity of diagnosis complicates a comprehensive understanding of risk factors and underlying pathology. Notably, populations experiencing considerable stress—such as those in underdeveloped regions or women—exhibit higher prevalence rates. The increased occurrence among individuals with mood or personality disorders suggests possible genetic, neurobiological, or psychological contributors.
A thorough physical and psychological assessment is crucial for elucidating underlying conditions.
A thorough physical and psychological assessment is crucial for elucidating underlying conditions.
Symptoms of Acute Psychotic Disorders
The presentation is abrupt and transient, bearing resemblance to positive symptoms seen in schizophrenia. Core symptoms of psychosis encompass:
- Hallucinations: Visual hallucinations or auditory experiences, such as hearing voices
- Delusions: Fixed, false beliefs not grounded in reality or shared by peers
- Disorganized speech: Incoherent language, neologisms, rapid shifts in topics, or perseveration
- Catatonic or disorganized behavior: Motor immobility, rigidity, repetitive movements, or mutism
Negative symptoms may also be observed, characterized by diminished emotional expression, lack of concentration, and decreased energy. Additional features include:
- Sleep disturbances (e.g., insomnia)
- Neglect of personal care and nutrition
- Memory impairments
- Indecisiveness
- Apathy and diminished interest in activities
Diagnosis hinges on the presence of these symptoms, with other potential causes systematically excluded.
Getting Started Is Easy
Step 1: Contact Our Admissions Team
Contact our admissions team to speak with an Intake Coordinator.
Step 2: Verify Insurance
When you talk with one of our admission team members, you will answer a few questions while they verify your insurance.
Step 3: Schedule Admission
Once your insurance is approved, we will determine how to best accommodate your needs.
How Our Program Differs
We know you’re different from anyone else, so we offer acute mental health care that meets your unique needs. With Ocean View, you’ll experience stabilization-focused care that provides structure and support without stigma. With your input, we build partnerships with medical and behavioral health services so you can transition from us to your daily life. We do this through providing comprehensive mental health services that are accessible to everyone.
- On-site Team of Psychiatrists: Our on-site psychiatrists provide medication stabilization, monitoring, and management. Your well-being is vital throughout your stay in our inpatient mental health crisis facility and our outpatient services.
- Case Management & Aftercare Support: Case management begins when you’re admitted to either our inpatient or outpatient program. Our case managers and social workers ensure you have a safe place to go, whether that’s housing or a facility, once you leave us.
- Transportation Coordination Provided: We offer transportation services coordinated with a trusted provider that takes you to and from inpatient intake, discharge destinations, as well as transportation to/from our onsite outpatient programs. *Transportation is provided to patients within a 50-mile radius
- Stabilization for Managing Psychiatric Symptoms: Ocean View provides 24/7 inpatient psychiatric care. We also have outpatient treatment programs.
- Patient Resource Network: Transitioning from inpatient or outpatient treatment can be overwhelming. That’s why we have an opt-in patient follow-up option. You don’t have to be alone in managing your symptoms.
Acute Psychosis Evaluation and Management at Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility
Diagnosing an acute psychotic disorder is challenging. A comprehensive physical, neurological, and mental health exam is recommended. The mental health exam should focus on:
- Mood: The patient reports emotions like happiness, anger, fear, or anxiety
- Affect: External emotional responses, like little to no emotional response or rapid mood shifts
- Thought process: Determining if hallucinations, delusions, thoughts of suicide, or homicide are present
- Cognitive abilities: Evaluate memory, reason, and process thoughts
A physical examination for acute psychosis includes:
- Complete blood count and metabolic panel
- Urinalysis and cultures
- Thyroid-stimulating
- Level of vitamin B12
- CT or MRI to rule out brain disorders or diseases
- HIV
- EEG to eliminate the possibility of a heart condition
Brief Psychotic Disorder Treatment From Our Care Team
The level of your symptoms determines treatment for acute psychosis. Your primary care doctor may also refer you to Ocean View for short-term mental health services that include crisis stabilization. The first step in treatment is ensuring your safety and that of others.
Our Levels of Care to Help Provide Relief for Your Acute Psychotic Disorder Symptoms
Inpatient Psychiatric Care
Individuals presenting with psychiatric symptoms can be admitted to Ocean View’s inpatient unit. Because mental health challenges present in a variety of ways, some of the criteria for admission include:
- Insomnia, racing thoughts, impulsivity, rapid or pressured speech
- Abnormal bouts of euphoric energy
- Reckless behavior or making decisions that affect an individual’s safety or well-being
- Inability to provide shelter, food, and safety as a result of mental impairment
- Helplessness, hopelessness
- Suicidal or homicidal ideations
- Psychosis
- Self-harming behaviors
Once you’re admitted, your team will develop a treatment plan that includes aftercare planning. Your treatment plan will be evaluated daily to reflect clinical improvement and make adjustments as needed.
Personalized Care
Ocean View’s inpatient program provides personalized, empathetic, comprehensive care. Our care team provides:
- Licensed Psychiatric Care
- 24/7 Nursing and Monitoring
- 6 Daily Group Sessions
- Psychoeducational Groups
- Therapeutic Recreation
- Coping Skills Development
- Patients are placed in groups based on the severity of their symptoms
Medication Stabilization
Antipsychotic drugs are the preferred medications for acute psychosis. These are proven to be more effective in treating positive psychosis symptoms and less effective for negative psychosis symptoms. The most common antipsychotics are atypical antipsychotics (second generation) and typical antipsychotics (first generation) medications, reviewed and prescribed based on your medical history, experience with antipsychotics, and the side effects. If you are experiencing agitation, a health professional may give you an antipsychotic with sedation properties.
Adverse effects can determine the type of antipsychotic medication you will receive. Some medical conditions, for example, dementia, prevent a patient from being prescribed an antipsychotic.
An essential component of our inpatient crisis stabilization is monitoring and adjusting your medication if necessary.
Adverse effects can determine the type of antipsychotic medication you will receive. Some medical conditions, for example, dementia, prevent a patient from being prescribed an antipsychotic.
An essential component of our inpatient crisis stabilization is monitoring and adjusting your medication if necessary.
Outpatient Levels of Care
Ocean View’s outpatient levels of care consider the severity of your symptoms. Once your symptoms are evaluated, you will be admitted to either our partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP). Both levels of care provide a safe, structured care that supports your symptom management.
Partial Hospitalization Program
Our PHP is a more structured level of care than our IOP. While here, you will engage in care that increases your coping skills and independence. The structured care includes:
- Four group sessions a day that meet five days a week. These sessions include a psychoeducational group led by a social worker and a therapeutic recreation support session led by a recreation therapist.
- Case management
- Snacks and lunch
Intensive Outpatient Program
While our IOP is a structured level of care, we focus on providing the same secure, enjoyable, and compassionate care found in our inpatient and PHP levels of care. However, we also include:
- Focused Coping Skills
- Community Reintegration
Continued Medication Management Support With
Our PHP and IOP
After your acute psychosis symptoms and medication are stabilized, you will transition to a lower level of care, and you will receive medication management services. Both our PHP and IOP provide continued medication management under the care of our psychiatric team.
Aftercare & Opt-In Patient Follow-Up
Your aftercare plan isn’t developed as you approach returning to your life away from us. When you first create your treatment plan, you start planning your transition back into the real world. Our treatment team understands the importance of an individualized aftercare plan that addresses issues you face in the real world. Our personalized approach includes:
- Case manager support
- Outpatient transitions
- Housing or facility placements
- Community support referrals
Our Opt-In Patient Follow-Up (Patient Resource Network) continues to provide support and encouragement after you transition back into your life. You can remain involved in your clinical improvement with:
- Routine Check Ins
Insurance and Payment Options
Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility is in-network for most insurance plans, including Medicare. We also accept private pay clients. Some of the companies we work with include:
Medicare, Tricare, Carelon, BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, MHN
Medicare, Tricare, Carelon, BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, MHN
Ocean View Psychiatric Health Facility: Moving Forward With Acute Psychotic Disorder Treatment in Long Beach
Contacting our admissions team is the first step in taking care of yourself. Ocean View offers you a safe place to treat and learn about your acute psychotic disorder.
Treat Your Symptoms Related to Your Acute Psychotic Disorder
Patients with symptoms of acute psychosis can be treated with the help of trained psychiatrists and antipsychotic medication. Ocean View provides the acute psychiatric care you need to stabilize your symptoms and transition back into your community.
Contact Our Admissions Team
Our admissions team is here for you 24/7 and is available through call or email.
Referral Information
Ocean View accepts referrals from doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. You will be actively involved in your patient’s care and treatment, allowing you to continue their psychiatric care with you. You can contact us anytime to learn about our services for mental health crises.
Our Long Beach Location
Our facility offers expert inpatient psychiatric stabilization. Our specialized team is dedicated to empowering you or your loved ones to understand mental health concerns, manage symptoms effectively, and restore stability with dignity and safety.