Recovering From Psychosis

Recovering From Psychosis Factsheet 3
Sometimes people with psychotic symptoms are reluctant to sis and the anxiety and distress these symptoms can cause.
seek treatment. Perhaps they believe there is nothing wrong, or Treatment should commence with a low dose of anti-psychotic
hope the symptoms will go away without treatment. They may medication. Details about how much to take and when to take
be concerned about the actual treatment or worried about what it will be worked out with the doctor. Medication should be
people may think. monitored and if side-effects develop the type of medication or
the amount taken may need to be changed. This is critical in
In recent years, research has led to the development of im- order to avoid distressing side-effects which can lead to a person
proved medications and therapies. A person with psychosis being unwilling to accept medication which is central to their
can be treated at home, with regular appointments at a mental recovery.
health clinic. Home visits by a local mental health service can
be arranged and if hospitalisation is required, this is usually
only for a brief period. Counselling and Psychological Therapy
Psychosis is like any other illness, in that it is treatable. Most Having someone to talk to is an important part of treatment.
people make a good recovery. The exact method may vary to suit the individual and the
phase of the psychotic episode. A person with acute psychotic
symptoms may simply want to know there is someone who can
What Will Treatment Involve? understand their experience and provide reassurance that they
will recover. As the recovery phase progresses, a person may
The first phase of treatment involves assessment. This means ask ‘why me?’, and in doing so learn practical ways to prevent
having an interview with a mental health specialist, such as a further episodes, such as stress management and early recogni-
psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or community mental health tion of warning signs.
nurse. The specialist will get to know the person, and will speak
with family and friends to gain further information. Blood
tests and x-rays can be performed to exclude a physical cause. Practical and Psychosocial Assistance
The period of assessment can be a bewildering time and a great
deal of reassurance and tolerance is needed. It is important to Treatment can also involve assistance with day-to-day things,
establish a trusting relationship wherever possible. such as getting back to school or work, gaining assistance with
accommodation, or obtaining financial help. Treatment also
Information obtained from the person with the psychosis and means working with the person to identify what is important to
their family and friends, together with any test results, will pro- them in their recovery. Treatment should not only be recovery-
vide some idea about the type of psychosis being experienced, focussed, but also goal-focussed. This will vary from person to
and how the person can best be helped. person, but may mean the goal of returning to school, getting a
job, developing new interests, or meeting new people and mak-
Sometimes psychotic symptoms resolve rapidly and people ing new friends. One-to-one counselling, group activities and
resume a normal life. Other people take several weeks or even activity based therapies can help a person to achieve these goals.
months to recover. Like any major illness, they may want to
spend some time recovering and they may wish to use a variety
of treatment options. Treatment options should be discussed When Should Hospital Be Considered?
with the person providing the treatment, as they probably have
a good professional knowledge of what may or may not be Most people with psychosis can be supported at home by rela-
helpful. Ultimately, determining the best treatment will depend tives or friends as long as they are provided with skilled and
on factors such as personal preference, how severe the psychotic regular support from mental health professionals. First episode
symptoms are, how long they have been present, and what the patients should be treated at home if possible, to minimise
apparent cause is. distress and disruption to the young person.
Home-based care can be provided by the local mental health

service. Sometimes, however, there are benefits in spending a
Medication period of time in hospital before continuing with home treat-
Medication is a crucial treatment for psychosis. Along with ment. Hospitalisation allows symptoms to be observed more
other forms of treatment, it plays a fundamental role in re- fully, allows investigations to be carried out and helps with the
covery from a psychotic episode and in prevention of further start of treatment. Sometimes people request hospitalisation so
episodes. There are a number of different types of medication they can rest and feel safe.
which are very effective in reducing the symptoms of psycho-
EPPIC Information sheet Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre

These days, hospitalisation is more commonly reserved for Further Information
situations where psychotic symptoms are placing the person or
Other information sheets are:
other people at risk. For example, the person may be contem-
plating suicide. In such cases, hospitalisation allows assessment · What Is Psychosis? – Fact Sheet 1
and treatment to be continued and ensures that the person is
· Getting Help Early – Fact Sheet 2
safe.
· How Can I help Someone With Psychosis? – Fact Sheet 4
In some cases, admission may need to be arranged against the
person’s will or on an involuntary basis, at least in the begin- The EPPIC Information Sheets can be downloaded from either
ning. However, treatment at home is always resumed as soon as the EPPIC website www.eppic.org.au or the ORYGEN Youth
possible, after the acute crisis has passed. Health website www.orygen.org.au and distributed freely with-
out alterations.
How Can The Person With Psychosis Be © 2006 EPPIC Statewide Services
Involved?
People with first episode psychosis are encouraged to be actively
involved in their own treatment. There is a need to learn about
psychosis, about the recovery process, and what they can do
to promote and maintain their recovery. Sometimes there are
secondary problems to be dealt with, like how to catch up with
missed school or work, or hope to cope with feelings of depres-
sion and stress related to the experience. It is important for the
person to know their rights and to ask questions when some-
thing is not clear.
The Course Of Recovery

The pattern of recovery from psychosis varies from person to
person. Some people recover quickly with very little interven-
tion. Others may benefit from support over a longer period.
If the young person resumes cannabis use, this will almost
certainly prolong any hope of recovery. Cannabis misuse may
become a problem that requires treatment in itself.
Recovery from the first episode usually takes a number of

months. If symptoms remain or return, the recovery process
may be prolonged. Some people experience a difficult period
lasting months or even years before effective management of
further episodes of psychosis is achieved.
Most people recover form psychosis and lead satisfying and

productive lives.
EPPIC Information sheet Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre

Recovering From Psychosis

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Recovering From Psychosis Factsheet 3

Home-based care can be provided by the local mental health

EPPIC Information sheet Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre

The Course Of Recovery

Recovery from the first episode usually takes a number of

Most people recover form psychosis and lead satisfying and

EPPIC Information sheet Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre

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