A hospital's environment can be extremely stressful for patients, especially those who depend upon familiar surroundings for their overall peace of mind. The combination of noisy medical equipment, unfamiliar surroundings and disorienting light cues can lead to a frightening condition known as hospital psychosis. Sufferers of hospital psychosis often report sensory hallucinations, slurred or confused speech and/or pronounced memory loss.

Hospital psychosis is not necessarily evidence of a more serious mental condition. It seems to be triggered primarily by the length of time spent in the hospital environment. Visitors and caregivers may notice a significant change in the patient's demeanor after a few days.

Since the hallucinations appear to be based in reality, the patient may not even realize the television is not a fire-breathing dragon or the wallpaper is not alive. Conversations may be perfectly lucid but also perfectly wrong. Sometimes the mere presence of familiar people can allow hospital psychosis sufferers to focus on the 'real world' for a few minutes.

Not all physicians are comfortable issuing a diagnosis of hospital psychosis. Some of the same symptoms may be attributed to the effects of sedatives or anesthesia. Elderly patients who do not receive the normal day/night light cues may develop another condition called sundowners syndrome. They may experience hallucinations or exhibit confused speech, but this is more akin to early Alzheimer's disease than an actual psychotic break. If hospital psychosis becomes evident, the patient may receive anti-depressants to counteract the hallucinations and disconnection with reality.

The good news is that hospital psychosis generally resolves within a few days of the patient's return to familiar circumstances. It may be very frightening to see a loved one act irrationally or seem completely disconnected from reality, but it is not always controllable. Many sleep-deprived or anxious patients may not understand why they are so confused or delusional. During more lucid moments they may regret their actions while under the effects of hospital psychosis.

Friends and family members may be even more frightened than the patient during a hospital psychosis incident, but it is important to remember that the condition is almost always temporary. Parents may have to limit younger children's visitation times or find a way to explain Grandpa's unusual behavior. It may be very confusing for a child to encounter a loved one whose personality has been temporarily altered.

Hospital psychosis is indeed a real phenomenon, although some medical professionals may be reluctant to use that specific terminology. Any changes in a patient's demeanor or cognitive skills should be reported to his or her caregiving team, but it is not unusual for mild to medium incidents of hospital psychosis to be left 'untreated'. The only real cure may be the eventual return home.