Recent studies have found a slight indication that the most severe OCD can lead to psychosis in the form of hallucinations, a symptom of OCD. However, this is a common misconception because of how similar OCD and psychosis actually are.
Studies have found that there is a significant overlap between the two disorders. Individuals struggling with OCD experience changes to their emotional control, mental processes, thoughts, and beliefs, but this makes them susceptible to hallucinations.
Other research has found that psychotic symptoms like hallucinations are more likely to occur in people with OCD compared to the general population.
Symptoms Of OCD And Psychosis
OCD
OCD stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder. With this disorder, individuals struggle with either obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are unreasonable thoughts, and compulsions are compulsive behaviors.
OCD usually manifests in childhood, but it can also manifest in early adulthood. It affects men and women to equal degrees and usually runs in families. Symptoms can change throughout your lifetime, and they can ebb and flow depending on what else is happening in your life. Increased stress or anxiety can exacerbate symptoms of OCD.
Psychosis
Psychosis is a mental health disorder where individuals experience delusions, hallucinations, or agitation. Some individuals with psychosis might start speaking incoherently.
Causes Of OCD And Psychosis
OCD
There are several factors that can influence the development of OCD.
- Brain abnormalities
- Genetics
- Environment
Research indicates that specific mental health conditions can occur with OCD, such as:
- Anxiety problems
- Depression
- Substance abuse
Psychosis
Psychosis can be caused by:
- Medications
- Schizophrenia
- OCD
OCD And Psychosis Overlap
There are areas where OCD can lead to psychosis. OCD diagnoses are subdivided based on individual cognitive function into three categories:
- The lowest level of cognitive function is when someone with OCD struggles with things like intrusive thoughts, but they know that intrusive thoughts are not likely to be true, so they have good cognizance of what’s real and what’s not.
- The middle level is when that same person experiences poor insight, so their intrusive thoughts might be believed part of the time but not all the time.
- The highest level is when those intrusive thoughts are believed to be true all of the time. At this stage, an individual is struggling with delusional beliefs, and they might even struggle with hallucinations.
Once an individual with OCD reaches the highest category for poor cognitive function, they start to experience severe delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized speech.
When OCD Becomes Psychosis
Is OCD-induced psychosis real? How do I know if I have psychosis or OCD? Can OCD lead to psychosis?
It is possible that OCD can result in hallucinations, one aspect of psychosis in individuals who have incredibly high anxiety and severe OCD symptoms. Individuals who reach the highest level of OCD insight, as defined by the DSM-5, are more likely to struggle with psychosis symptoms because they no longer understand the difference between reality and fantasy.
If you are worried about OCD-induced psychosis, the best thing you can do is reach out to a mental health professional for a proper evaluation. They can help you determine whether you have psychosis or OCD and provide personalized treatment plans.
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