Treatment for psychosis involves a combination of antipsychotic medicines, psychological therapies, and social support. Show Your care teamYour treatment is likely to be co-ordinated by a team of mental health professionals working together. If this is your first psychotic episode, you may be referred to an early intervention team. Early intervention teamsAn early intervention team is a team of healthcare professionals set up specifically to work with people who have experienced their first episode of psychosis. Some early intervention teams only focus on a certain age range, such as people who are 14 to 35 years old. Depending on your care needs, early intervention teams aim to provide:
Treatment for psychosis will vary, depending on the underlying cause. You'll receive specific treatment if you've been diagnosed with an underlying mental health condition as well. For example, treatment for bipolar disorder uses a variety of medications, which could include antipsychotics to treat symptoms of mania, lithium and anticonvulsants to help stabilise mood, as well as psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Treatment for schizophrenia usually involves a combination of antipsychotic medication and social support. CBT or another type of psychotherapy called family therapy are also often used. Psychosis related to drug or alcohol intoxication or withdrawal may only require a short course of antipsychotics or tranquillisers, which have a calming effect. Referral to an addiction counsellor may then be recommended. AntipsychoticsAntipsychotic medicines, also known as neuroleptics, are usually recommended as the first treatment for psychosis. They work by blocking the effect of dopamine, a chemical that transmits messages in the brain. However, they're not suitable or effective for everyone, as side effects can affect people differently. In particular, antipsychotics will be monitored closely in people who also have epilepsy, a condition that causes seizures or fits. People who have cardiovascular disease – conditions that affect the heart, blood vessels, or circulation, such as heart disease – will also be closely monitored. Antipsychotics can usually reduce feelings of anxiety or aggression within a few hours of use, but they may take several days or weeks to reduce other psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusional thoughts. Antipsychotics can be taken by mouth (orally) or given as an injection. There are several slow-release antipsychotics, where you only need one injection every two to six weeks. Depending on the underlying cause of your psychosis, you may only need to take antipsychotics until your psychosis subsides. However, if you have a condition like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, you may need to take antipsychotics on a long-term basis to prevent further episodes of psychosis. Side effectsAntipsychotics can have side effects, although not everyone will experience them and their severity will differ from person to person. Side effects can include:
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of possible side effects. In addition, long-term use of antipsychotics can lead to complications like weight gain and diabetes. Read more about the complications of psychosis. Tell your GP if you have side effects that are becoming particularly troublesome. There may be an alternative antipsychotic medicine you can take. Never stop taking medication prescribed for you unless advised to do so by a qualified healthcare professional responsible for your care. Suddenly stopping prescription medication could trigger a return of your symptoms (relapse). When it's time for you to stop taking your medication, it will be done gradually and under close observation. Psychological treatmentPsychological treatment can help reduce the intensity and anxiety caused by psychosis. Some possible psychological treatments are discussed below. Cognitive behavioural therapyCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis is based on an understanding of how people make sense of their experiences and why some people become distressed by them. The aim of CBT is to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and emotions that may be causing your unwanted feelings and behaviours. It's then possible to learn to replace this thinking with more realistic and balanced thoughts. A CBT therapist may encourage you to consider different ways of understanding what's happening to you. The aim is to help you achieve goals that are meaningful and important to you, such as reducing your distress, returning to work or university, or regaining a sense of control. Family therapyFamily therapy is known to be an effective form of treatment for people with psychosis. It's a way of helping both you and your family cope with your condition. After having an episode of psychosis, you may rely on your family members for care and support. While most family members are happy to help, the stress of caring for somebody can place a strain on any family. Family therapy involves a series of informal meetings that take place over a period of six months. Meetings may include:
Self-help groupsIf you're experiencing episodes of psychosis, you may benefit from being around other people who've had similar experiences.
A psychotic episode can be an awful experience for anyone to have. If a loved one has experienced symptoms of psychosis, get medical help sooner rather than later, as timeliness is a vital factor in treating psychosis. Medical professionals can help you and your loved one understand the causes of psychosis and how treatment can help them cope with, and even prevent, future episodes. With medication and therapy in a residential facility, you and your loved one can feel safe in your daily lives once again. Remember, the sooner you take that first step together, the sooner your loved one can begin walking the road to recovery.
One morning on her way to work, Charlotte got off the bus a few stops early to get breakfast. As she stood in line to order a croissant with eggs from a street cart, a man walked up behind her wearing a blue baseball cap that said “Dallas Cowboys” on it. The man, talking on his phone, said, “Don’t move, I’ll be right there.” Charlotte felt dizzy. Her palms got sweaty and her heart started to pound. She knew, without knowing how or why, that this man was going to try to kill her. She dropped her purse and ran, bumping into a couple who were window shopping. When they asked her what was wrong, she could only stutter incomprehensible words. Fortunately, the couple she ran into helped her, and convinced her to call her sister, who came and picked her up. She didn’t know it at the time, but Charlotte had suffered a psychotic episode brought on by trauma. She had suffered a sexual assault during college, and seeing the blue Dallas Cowboys cap and hearing a male voice saying “don’t move” tricked her amygdala into thinking the trauma was happening to her all over again. “It felt real,” she said. “I was convinced this man was going to kill me and I had to get away.” Her idea that the man in the hat was her assailant and that he wanted to kill her were delusions, or false beliefs. When someone experiences a psychotic episode, delusions can seem completely true and often feel terrifying. If someone you love has experienced a psychotic episode caused by any number of triggers, it’s important to get professional help as soon as possible.
“Psychosis” is a word people often use, but may find hard to define. According to the National Institute of Mental Health‘s website, “the word psychosis is used to describe conditions that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality.” During a psychotic episode, thoughts and emotions become so impaired the afflicted cannot perceive external reality. They may see or hear things that do not exist or hold beliefs that have no basis in reality. And a “psychotic episode” refers to the period of time when a person experiences psychosis, which can vary in duration. Needless to say, experiencing a psychotic episode firsthand can be extremely unsettling.
During a psychotic episode, a person may exhibit behavior that is inappropriate in the context of the situation they are in—for instance, laughing at a funeral. Their speech may be incoherent. Other symptoms can include:
Psychosis has a variety of causes, some of which are still being studied by medicine. But science has explored several major potential causes over the last several decades, including:
Successful recovery from psychosis depends upon early treatment, especially following the first episode. If those who witness the psychotic episode act quickly to get the sufferer help, their loved one’s chances of getting better improve greatly. Psychosis can come on quickly or slowly, depending on its cause. And because it has a variety of causes, it may have a variety of triggers.
No matter what the cause psychosis generally has the same treatment; a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy can help manage psychotic episodes while medication can treat symptoms and reduce their impact. Depending on the circumstances, other therapies may be used. Treatment plans often include one or more of the following:
Clients may receive any combination of these or other therapies. But once a client is in treatment, it is very important that they remain on the psychiatric medication prescribed to them, as stopping the medication suddenly and without professional guidance can cause a regression back to psychosis.
Because psychotic episodes greatly impact a person’s ability to function in their daily lives, it requires comprehensive, long-term treatment efforts. Regular outpatient treatment often cannot produce the outcomes clients want to see, as meeting for an hour or even a few hours a week may not be enough time to provide comprehensive therapy. When this happens, a residential treatment program can be an excellent option for a client, as they can get the care they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residential treatment has many benefits:
Residential treatment is comprehensive care that implements long-term treatment plans. At a residential treatment center, clients can not only receive therapies, such as psychoanalysis or cognitive behavioral therapy, but can get medically supported care. This is a great plan for introducing clients to new medications, as they can give feedback or report problems at any time. Residential treatment can involve families in an individual’s treatment, helping the family unit heal and learn how to support the client, and each other. While at a residential treatment center, clients prepare to return to their daily lives by building coping skills that prepare them for life’s daily challenges. And a good residential treatment center establishes outpatient care so clients can continue their therapies after they have left the center. With the help of her sister and parents, Charlotte sought treatment at a residential treatment facility. She got the therapy and medication she needed for her psychotic episode and is working on her PTSD trauma. It’s been a challenging road for Charlotte and her family, but she is starting to see the results of dedicated therapy and is gradually getting her life back. It doesn’t matter if you or your loved one has had a psychotic episode because of trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, or because of a medical condition. You deserve clarity, safety, and peace of mind—all of which are within your reach. BrightQuest is a long-term residential treatment program for people struggling with mental health disorders as well as co-occurring substance use disorders. Contact us to learn more about our renowned program and how we can help you or your loved one begin the journey toward recovery. |
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