While less common, it can also happen to people withbipolar II disorder.

Psychosis is also a feature of other types of mental illness, includingschizophreniaandschizoaffective disorder.

More than half of peopleliving with bipolar disorderwill experience at least one symptom ofpsychosisover the course of their lives.

Thoughtful woman

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This article discusses the symptoms, diagnosis, and causes of bipolar psychosis.

It also explores the treatment options and coping strategies that can help.

That said, people close to the person experiencing psychosis are usually the ones to detect these symptoms.

Examples of bizarre illusions include being abducted by aliens or having a CIA tracking equipment in your head.

Unlike hallucinations, delusions can often seem perfectly normal in casual situations.

Hallucinations don’t just involve perceptions but actual sensations involving one or more of the five senses.

The DSM is a tool that categorizes different types of mental disorders and describes their diagnostic criteria.

Because psychosis can also be a symptom of other conditions, your doctor will rule out other causes.

To do this, they might perform a physical exam, order lab tests, and conduct psychological assessments.

In terms of symptoms, they are typically classified as being eithermood-congruent or mood-incongruent.

The hallucinations and/or delusions match the person’s mood.

The hallucinations may be contextualized by a person’s delusions.

A person’s mood does not match the hallucination and/or delusion.

The episodes are considered serious and will more often than not require hospitalization.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

2016;38(1):1-5. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2014-1640

Chaudhury S.Hallucinations: Clinical aspects and management.Ind Psychiatry J.