Causes of transient psychosis may include:
(1) anxiety, depression and/or burnout
(2) substance abuse
(3) medications
(4) severe infection
(5) CNS vasculitis (SLE, other)
(6) other CNS disease (brain tumor, encephalitis, etc)
(7) endocrine disorder (thyroiditis, adrenal disease, etc)
(8) sleep deprivation
(9) toxin or chemical exposure
(10) paraneoplastic disorder
Differential diagnosis:
(1) first episode of a persistent psyhosis
(2) pseudo-psychosis (experience misinterpreted as a psychotic episode)
It is important to consider the context of a psychotic episode when determining the diagnostic approach and management strategy.
The course over time may be important in distinguishing a transient episode from the first episode of a persistent psychosis.
