Psychosis is diagnosed based on the person's symptoms and how long the person has had them. Psychological evaluation and testing can help to pinpoint the exact type of psychosis. A cranial CT scan or cranial MRI may be done to help rule out other causes for the symptoms. The psychosis may prevent the person from functioning normally in society. Psychosis is not contagious, but a person with psychosis may cause harm to others when he or she loses contact with reality.
Treatment varies depending on the cause of the psychosis.
Psychotherapy , medication, and hospitalization are all helpful in treating psychosis. During sudden flare-ups, the psychotic symptoms may be severe enough that the person needs to be protected. If suicide or homicide is part of the person's delusions, the person may need to be hospitalized. Antipsychotic medication such as haloperidol, thiothixene, trifluoperazine, and chlorpromazine may be helpful. They will go away once the person stops taking the medication.