The term `psychosis' is used to describe when you lose touch with reality. Young people often worry that they may be `going mad' when they are feeling stressed, confused or very upset. In fact, feelings like these are rarely a sign of mental illness. Psychosis is usually much more severe and distressing.

Psychosis affects people of all ages, but becomes increasingly common as you reach the older teenage years.

When you have a psychotic episode, it can be a signal of another underlying illness. You can have a 'psychotic breakdown' after a stressful event, like losing a close friend or relative. It can also be the result of a physical illness, like a severe infection, the use of drugs like cannabis, or a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Sometimes, it is difficult to know what caused the illness.

When you have psychosis, you may have unusual thoughts and experiences. They may appear suddently, making you feel really frightened, or they can creep in so gradually that only people like your close family and friends notice you are behaving strangely.  You may experience one or more of the symptoms below:

 

Unusual beliefs called delusions. These very strong beliefs are obviously untrue to others, but not to you. For example, when you are ill, you may think that there is a plot to harm you, or that you are being spied on by the TV, or you have been taken over by aliens. Sometimes, you may feel you have special powers.

 

Thought disorder is when you cannot think straight. Your ideas may seem jumbled, but it is more than being muddled or confused. Other people will find it very difficult to follow what you say.

 

Unusual experiences called hallucinations are when you can see, hear, smell or feel something that isn't really there. The most common hallucination that people have is hearing voices.Hallucinations are very real to the person having them. This can be very frightening and can make you believe that you are being watched or picked on.

 

Having these strange thoughts and experiences can affect you at school, home or when with friends. You may find it difficult to concentrate and enjoy what you normally do.  They can even affect your sleep and appetite.

It is important to seek help early.  The earlier you are treated, the quicker you will get back to your normal life.

 

Firstly, you can talk to your family, school nurse or GP. They may get you specialist helo from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or an Early Intervention Team (a specialist team for young people with psychosis).

 

With psychosis, you often don't realise that you are unwell which means that the people around you might notice it first. You can become very unwell, so you may need some treatment in hospital or in a specialist in-patient unit until your condition stabilises.

Medications called antipsychotics are an important part of treatment. They may need to be taken for a long time in order to stay well. As with medication of any kind, there may be side-effects; the doctor you see will be able to advise you on what they are and what can be done to help.

 

If the psychosis is related to drug use or an underlying physical illness, you may need specific help and treatment to manage this.

 

Other forms of treatment are also important. You and your family will need help to understand your illness, to cope successfully, and to help prevent the illness coming back. You may need support to rebuild your confidence to continue with school, college or work.

 

Talking treatments can be helpful as well, but need to be in addition to medication.

Most young people, with early help and treatment, recover from their psychotic episode.  If the illness is due to an underlying physical illness or the use of drugs, you may be able to avoid having another episode by taking the appropriate treatment and avoiding using drugs. 

 

When a young person has a 'psychotic breakdown', not due to drug use, it can be difficult to know what the long-term effects will be, and a definite diagnosis may not be possible straight away.

It is important to continue with any treatment advised by your doctor and to keep a balanced, healthy lifestyle.  Talking to others when you feel stressed can help in identifying problems early and getting the right treatment.

Sources of further information

• Mind: national mental health charity for England and Wales
• Rethink: offers help to people with severe mental illness and their carers.  
• Sane and Saneline: SANEline is a national out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems.Tel: 0845 767 8000.
• Talk to Frank: for drug-induced psychosis.
• Young Minds: websiteoffers information to young people about mental health and emotional well-being.

 

Changing Minds: A Multimedia CD-ROM about Mental Health is intended for 13–17 year olds; it talks about addiction, stress, eating disorders, depression, and schizophrenia and self-harm. Further details from the Royal College of Psychiatrists:

Recommended reading

• The Mind: A User's Guide: Editor Raj Persaud, Bantam Press, 2007.
• The Young Mind: An essential guide to mental health for young adults, parents and teachers, Bantam Press, 2009.

References

Rutter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Fifth Edition (2008). Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.

 

Series editor: Dr Mona Freeman

Editorial Board: Child and Family Public Education Editorial Board. 

 

---

© March 2010. Next due for review: March 2012. Royal College of Psychiatrists. This leaflet may be downloaded, printed out, photocopied and distributed free of charge as long as the Royal College of Psychiatrists is properly credited and no profit is gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in any other way must be obtained from the Head of Publications. The College does not allow reposting of its leaflets on other sites, but allows them to be linked to directly.

 

• Order our leaflets