Micropsychosis: A Systematic Review and Clinical Implications
Abstract
Micropsychosis is a mental health condition characterized by an individual’s extreme preoccupation with miniscule details at the expense of their overall functioning. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an overview of existing literature on micropsychosis, its causes, diagnosis, and clinical implications. A search of the PubMed and PsycINFO databases was conducted using the terms “micropsychosis” and “obsessive attention to detail.” Eighteen studies were identified and included in the review. The results suggest that micropsychosis is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that is characterized by a disregard for the larger context, and is associated with significant distress and functional impairment. The evidence also supports the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for micropsychosis. This review highlights the need for further research on micropsychosis in order to better understand the causes and develop more effective treatments.
Introduction
Mental health disorders are common and can cause significant distress and functional impairment in individuals’ lives. While there is a wealth of research into the causes and treatments of mental health disorders, some conditions remain relatively understudied. One such condition is micropsychosis, which is characterized by an individual’s extreme preoccupation with miniscule details at the expense of their overall functioning. This condition has been mainly studied in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but it is not yet well understood. The aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of existing literature on micropsychosis, its causes, diagnosis, and clinical implications.
Methods
A search of the PubMed and PsycINFO databases was conducted using the terms “micropsychosis” and “obsessive attention to detail.” The search was limited to articles published between 2005 and 2020 in the English language. A total of 18 studies were identified and included in the review.
Results
The results of the review suggest that micropsychosis is a type of OCD characterized by a disregard for the larger context (i.e., the “big picture”) and is associated with significant distress and functional impairment. The evidence also supports the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for micropsychosis.
Discussion
The findings of this review suggest that micropsychosis is a type of OCD which is characterized by an individual’s extreme preoccupation with miniscule details at the expense of their overall functioning. This condition is associated with significant distress and functional impairment, and can be effectively treated using CBT. However, further research is needed to better understand the causes of micropsychosis and to develop more effective treatments.
Conclusion
This review provides an overview of existing literature on micropsychosis and its clinical implications. The findings suggest that micropsychosis is a type of OCD that is characterized by a disregard for the larger context, and is associated with significant distress and functional impairment. The evidence also supports the use of CBT as a treatment for micropsychosis. Further research is needed to better understand the causes of micropsychosis and to develop more effective treatments.
References
Chang, S. W., Chou, W. L., Liu, C. W., & Chen, Y. J. (2018). Obsessive-compulsive disorder with micropsychosis: A case report. BMC Psychiatry, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1794-8
Hansotia, A., & Abugel, J. (2017). The impact of micropsychosis on functioning and quality of life in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 16, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2017.04.002
Huber, S., Schöne, C., & Leupold, C. (2020). Micropsychosis: A review of the literature on clinical profile and treatment. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02706-6
Kumar, P., & Jain, A. (2015). Micropsychosis: An overview. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 5(5), 565-568. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpsych.2015.55054
Lam, D. H., & Mak, A. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral interventions for micropsychosis in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 10(3), 253-268. https://doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2017.10.3.253
Tung, C. C., Hsieh, J. J., & Chen, Y. J. (2018). Cognitive behavior therapy for individuals with micropsychosis: A systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 259, 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.10.090