Psychosis alters a person’s perception, thoughts, mood and behaviour. Psychosis is divided into ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ symptoms. Positive symptoms represent a change in behaviour and thoughts, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that don’t exist) and delusions (fixed or falsely held beliefs). Negative symptoms represent a withdrawal or lack of function, such as being unmotivated, lack of enjoyment from usual hobbies, feeling emotionless, self-neglect and social withdrawal.
Children and young people may experience a single episode of psychosis that may be triggered by extreme distress or drug use. Not all young people who experience psychosis will go on to develop specific psychiatric disorders such as Schizoprenia (episodes of hallucinations, delusions) or Bipolar (episodes of elevated mood alternating with episodes of depressed mood, both with decreased function). However it is important to identify those at risk so appropriate psychological and medical support can be accessed early. The CAMHS team will support children and young people with Psychosis by offering healthy lifestyle advice, family/carer support, psychological therapy (individual CBT and/or family therapy) and medication where appropriate. You and your family will need help to understand more about psychosis, how to manage it, and how to help prevent it coming back. You may need support to rebuild your confidence to continue with school, college or work.
"I was about 14 when it happened. I had a good family, did well at school and had group of good friends. Life had been good to me although my mum said I could not handle stress. I would be a bag of nerves before exams, was scared of failing and could not face is someone was unwell. Uncle Rob’s death a year back in the accident was just too much. I knew I would feel upset for a long time. But then I didn’t feel upset. It was strange. I thought people were doing strange things to me like controlling me through radio signals. I felt I had lost control of myself and even felt my body was changing in a strange sort of way… not just the puberty. And then I could not face school, I was swearing, felt muddled in my head. My learning mentor got worried and spoke to my mum, who had noticed my strange behaviour. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t be bothered about going out. I didn’t like the idea of seeing a psychiatrist from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and I thought they would judge me. But it was very different. She seemed to know and understand how I felt, what I thought. I felt relieved. She even said I was not going to be locked away in a hospital. It was just an illness for which I needed to take medication for few months or year. She then introduced me to Kay, a worker from Early Intervention Psychosis team. Kay explained to me and my family all about psychosis, what we could to keep me well. She was there when I felt I was losing it before my exams. It’s nearly a year now. I am like any other 16 year old, going to school, with friends etc... I take my meds and I am staying away from drugs and alcohol."
ANIMATION
This short animated film explores what it is to have schizophrenia, what may trigger it and how to help yourself and others. The film was produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists Public Engagement Committee in conjunction with Damn Fine Media.
More Information on Psychosis
[1] http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyouthinfo/youngpeople/schizophreniaforyoungpeople.asp