Psych Evaluations Provide Clear Answers For Bizarre Behavior
What is happening to my loved one?
Marked insomnia, nonsensical speech, false beliefs, and sudden aggression can have a variety of causes. While a full discussion is beyond the scope of this article, common causes include drug-induced psychosis, schizophrenia, and the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
1. Drug-induced psychosis. If your loved one has been using
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cocaine -
crystal methamphetamine -
marijuana (or its synthetic cousin, "spice") -
hallucinogens -
designer drugs such as bath salts or "flakka "
2. Schizophrenia. Sometimes a person developing this mental disorder, which affects about one percent of the population, may act odd or eccentric for many months prior to it reaching a crisis point. At other times, schizophrenia appears in a sudden break with reality, during which patients hear voices that are not there and believe strange things that are not possible.
3. Mania. Mania is one extreme of bipolar disorder (the other being depression). It is marked by days of insomnia and excessive amounts of energy. The manic person may have elaborate plans for something irrational, or may demonstrate
What is a psych evaluation?
A psych evaluation, which you can access for your loved one at a local health clinic, is comprised of a physical examination and a personal interview. This assessment will most likely be done by a psychiatrist, although other medical professionals are trained in this kind of assessment
What if the doctor forces my loved one
Many people are afraid of taking loved ones to psychiatric professionals for fear they will be subjected to hospitalization against their will. While it is possible your loved one may need the safety of a hospital during the most acute time of crisis, there are laws that govern these types of decisions. Specifically, to be hospitalized involuntarily, most states require evidence that the patient is
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a danger to self -
a danger to others -
gravely disabled (unable to care for most basic life needs)
Once hospitalized, a patient can only be held for 72 hours unless compelling evidence suggests a longer stay is necessary; in many states this requires a court hearing.
Your family member's struggles are difficult
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