Brief Psychotic Disorder

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

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Brief psychotic disorder is a short-term mental illness where you have psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Antipsychotics: These help decrease psychotic symptoms or severe agitation. These medicines may also help stop your symptoms from coming back.
• Anxiety medicine may help you feel calm and relaxed.
• Mood stabilizers: These help control quick changes in your mood that happen for no reason.
• A sedative is medicine to help you stay calm and relaxed.
• Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.

Follow up with your healthcare provider or psychiatrist as directed:

Healthcare providers will monitor how you respond to your medicines. Sometimes the kind and amount of medicines you use may need to be changed. You may need to return for blood tests to check how much medicine is in your blood or how well it is working. You may need to have these tests more than once. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• Depakote
• Haldol
• Risperdal
• Fanapt
• Depakote ER

Self-care:

• Manage stress: Stress may slow healing and cause illness. Learn ways to relax, such as deep breathing or meditation.
• Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can cause sleep problems, make you feel depressed, and increase stress.
• Get plenty of exercise: Ask about the best exercise plan for you. Exercise can decrease stress, lower your blood pressure, and improve your health.
• Know the warning signs and get help as soon as possible:
  • You have changes in how you think, feel, and see things.
  • You become more nervous and upset, but do not know why.
  • You are not doing well at work or school.
  • You have little or no interest in your friends.

Contact your healthcare provider or psychiatrist if:

• You think your medicines are not helping.
• You have new or worsening symptoms.
• You have muscle spasms, stiffness, or trouble walking.
• You cannot sleep or you sleep more than usual.
• You are depressed.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Return to the emergency department if:

• You cannot move your eyes.
• You feel very upset or threaten someone.
• You feel like hurting or killing yourself or others.
• You suddenly have trouble breathing.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Further information

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