Psychotic Arousal and the Psychopathology of Acute Schizophrenia: An Exploratory Study of the Experiential Emotional State in Acute Psychosis
Journal of Clinical Medicine September 15, 2024 Maria Margariti, Ilias I. Vlachos, Dimitra Mpourazana et al. 4 citations
An emotional state called psychotic arousal (PA) may be a distinct feature of acute psychosis, involving abnormal experiential feelings that are often overlooked in schizophrenia research. In a study of 55 patients hospitalized for acute schizophrenia, a new Psychotic Arousal Scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha reported for the scale). PA severity was linked to the strength of delusional beliefs and to other measures of anxiety and depression. The state also responded to antipsychotic medication within the first weeks of treatment. These findings suggest that emotional arousal with abnormal feelings is a measurable and clinically important component of acute psychosis.