Signs in others
The specific signs that someone is developing psychosis can be
different for each person. However there are some common early
signs that it is important to be aware of as they are indicators
that the person needs help with their mental health even if they do
not develop psychosis. They include:
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Increasing difficulty concentrating, focusing and making sense
of information
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Becoming quiet and withdrawn from family and friends
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Decreasing motivation
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Becoming depressed or anxious
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Spending increasing amounts of time alone
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Difficulty functioning at school, college or work
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Increasing absences from school, college or work and other
activities
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Becoming suspicious or paranoid
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Disorganised, erratic speech, unusual speech patterns, speaking
very fast or slow, not making sense
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Changed sleep patterns - sleeping too little or too much
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Neglecting personal hygiene and appearance
Of course any of these changes could be a temporary reaction to
stressful events such as difficulties at school / college / work,
relationship break-ups, or the process of changing roles. For some
people recreational drug and /or alcohol use may trigger these
difficulties.
If you notice these signs in someone you know, please don't
ignore them. Ask the person if anything is wrong, tell them what
you have noticed and encourage them to talk to their GP and offer
to go with them. If they don't want to talk about it but you
continue to notice signs, seek advice from your local early
intervention in psychosis service. If their symptoms are severe
please call their GP or GP out of hours service, take them to the
nearest A&E or call 999 for an ambulance.
Signs in yourself
There are other signs that it is hard to spot in other people
but it is important to recognise if you experience them
yourself:
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Sounds seeming louder, lights seeming brighter, seeing things
out of the corner of your eye that, when you check, are not
there
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A sense of disconnection from reality and the world around
you
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Increasingly clear and frequent experiences of déjà vu and
unreality
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An increasingly persistent sense of unease
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Strange thoughts, for example wondering if people can read your
mind, wondering if those around you are real, or wondering if a
dream actually happened
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Finding personal meanings or connections in things that you
would previously have considered irrelevant or unimportant.
If you become aware that you are experiencing these things, or
you are worried that you may be having unusual thoughts or sensory
experiences, or any of the other early signs, please don't ignore
them - talk to your GP as soon as possible. It can also be
extremely helpful to confide in a trusted friend or family member
who can support you, visit your GP with you and get help on your
behalf if they notice your symptoms getting worse.
It is a good idea to get these checked out so you know what is
happening. This means that if a psychotic episode is developing,
any treatment needed can be started sooner rather than later. You
may feel uncomfortable about needing help but remember it could
happen to any of us.
Treatments and interventions
The sooner a person gets help, the better their long-term
outcome is likely to be. If you experience psychosis or it is
suspected that you may be developing psychosis, you are likely to
receive a combination of different treatments to reduce symptoms,
reduce risk of further episodes or psychosis, and to help your
recovery and return to your normal day-to-day life as quickly as
possible. Services for first episode psychosis are provided by
specialist teams called early intervention for psychosis teams.
Treatments might include:
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Psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT), which is a one-to-one talking therapy, or art psychotherapy
which can be done one-to-one or in group sessions.
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Family interventions, where services help the family to copy
with and understand the diagnosis and symptoms. This has been shown
to help recovery and reduce relapse.
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Support, if needed, with housing, finances, education or
work.
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Medications can also be used to reduce distressing symptoms such
as hallucinations and delusions