Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Perspective
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PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS:
Psychotic disorders include several forms of mental derangement any one of which constitutes “insanity” in the usual meaning of the word. For instance, people living with Schizophrenia are known to have lost contact with reality. Among the Igbos of South-East Nigeria, they believe that when psychotic individuals enter the market square, it shows that their insanity has been aggravated. Such beliefs of the Igbos have amplified the grave nature of Schizophrenic spectrum disorders.
When a person becomes ill with psychosis, he loses control of his thinking and acting to the extent that his behavior is no longer in harmony with the accepted standards nor consistent with the realities of his life situation. Efforts to persuade him that his thinking is confused or that his actions are not acceptable do not change his abnormal patterns. The person with psychosis is no longer able to carry his share of responsibility in the family, place of work, or the Community. He may be irrational and irresponsible and, for his own good, may have to be required to comply with regulations that others consider best rather than being allowed to follow his own dictates.
Fundamental causes of psychoses are still debated among mental health experts across the globe. Most Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists feel that hereditary factors sometimes make one person less able than others to adjust successfully to life’s demands and that such an individual’s personality may disintegrate under stress in life that requires greater adjustments than the patient is capable of making.
Some mental health experts, however, believe that psychoses are caused by some abnormalities of the chemical processes that occur within the nerve cells of the brain.
In some instances, persons with psychotic disorders become difficult to manage in a milieu therapy. However, as mental health practitioners, we will not hesitate to do our best for our patients in our clinical interventions, and subsequent prophylaxis.
Dear Reader of this piece, try as much as possible to check on your neighbours to know how they are fairing in this excruciating economic situation of our various Countries in Africa. A little problem-sharing may save many lives.
Thank you and learn to consult mental health experts when you are mentally challenged.
Prof. Sir. N.C. Abamara
CEO/Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Practitioner,
Nedal Psychological Clinic International.
+234 8033948998.
