What is a Psychotic Episode?

Am I psychotic because of the torture I endured as a child or am I something else?

@waterhopper: Last night I had a very little to drink and we were just sitting on the couch with a friend when all of a sudden, I started feeling anxious. I got up to use the restroom and according to my boyfriend and friend, I started running around the apartment panicking, with speech that made no sense. I remember feeling like I was in a dream where I could not wake up and was going in and out of reality.

I remember a lot of the feeling but I don't remember some of the things. It lasted about 10 minutes of running around and then I started to snap out of it. I have never had any episodes or psychiatric problems before so I'm a little freaked out. I'm a healthy 22 year old female and I haven't been depressed or anything. Do you know what might have caused this episode and will it happen again? It was very traumatizing.

My late grandmother-in-law (a/k/a Yia Yia) who was born in Greece & although she lived in the US almost 75 percent of her life, was only able to understand Greek. She was hospitalized after surgery to remove a large section of her intestines, and she was put into the Intensive Care Unit.

Her daughter, born in US, but quite adept at translating English to Greek and vice versa spent a great deal of time with her mother in the hospital to help avoid confusion for Yia Yia. Her daughter even made a table of terms that was posted above her mother's bed for speaking to her mother in Greek to let her know what they were doing or needed her to do, when her daughter was not present.

Unfortunately, many of the nurses and attendants did not take the time to tell the grandmother and obtain her understanding of what was going on. Yia Yia developed psychosis while she was hospitalized because so many had "snuck up on her and stuck her with needles unexpectedly". Yia Yia was always spooked, distrustful and got very agitated when anyone other than family members came into her hospital room. She'd launch into an all Greek tirade in direct confrontation with the staff and appeared to trust none of the staff.

After her recovery and return to her home, the problem resolved. Yia Yia was diagnosed as developing ICU psychosis during her hospital stay.

I'm just wondering, in an "episode" could it be possible if they do things and not remember? Like they act possessed? I know someone who carved in the numbers "333" in the wall and then went back into reality and didn't remember.

@chrisinbama: That’s a good question. ICU psychosis can only be diagnosed in the absence of a known underlying medical condition that could mimic the symptoms of ICU psychosis. There has to be an extensive medical assessment done to search for any other causes for the behavior. Some of the things that are checked for are: stroke, low blood sugar, alcohol or drug withdrawal or any other medical condition that could cause the symptoms. Even sleep deprivation can be a cause of ICU psychosis.

After it is determined that ICU psychosis is the answer, treatment can begin. Familiar objects and the presence of family members sometimes help. Many of the patients are treated with haloperidol.

@waterhopper: How do you diagnose ICU psychosis? I mean, how do you know it's not just a reaction to a medication or something?

@medicchristy: I work as an ICU nurse and there is actually a condition called ICU psychosis. It is similar to a regular psychotic episode except that it happens while the patient is in ICU. Some of the symptoms of ICU psychosis include: anxiety, extreme excitement, hearing voices, clouding of consciousness, hallucinations, nightmares, paranoia, disorientation, agitation and delusions.

It is a temporary psychotic episode. The onset is rapid and can be very upsetting and frightening to the family members and the patient.

I have heard of something called ICU psychosis. To me, that doesn't sound real. Does anyone know if that actually exists?