The Beginning of Psychosis: Psychological and Environmental Factors That Lead To Psychosis and Their Relationship to Biological Factors

Abstract

When we talk about psychosis and psychotic disorders, we have in mind patients with disorganized thinking, mental retardation, delusions, and other similar symptoms associated with damage to the brain's normal functioning. Psychosis, however, is not the only cause of dysfunction, the abnormal functioning of the brain. The onset of psychosis may be due to psychological factors, with stress to be one of the main factors. Psychological and environmental factors interact with biological ones creating fertile ground for the development of psychosis. Anxiety, stress, depression, immigration, social stress, and consequently stressful life events are the leading causes of a psychotic episode. In this article, we will try to examine the following parameters: 1) what are the psychological-environmental factors that contribute to the onset of psychosis, and 2) what is their relationship with biological factors.