How to Spot the Signs of Psychosis in Adolescents
Teens canexperience all forms of mental illness, including psychosis.
At a Glance
Teens who experience psychosis struggle to tell what’s real and what isn’t.
Treatments may involve therapy, medication, and family interventions.
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What Exactly Is Psychosis?
However, it’s important to know upfront that psychosis is a symptom rather than a diagnosis.
The severity of psychosis varies.
One person may have mild impairment, while another struggles with activities of daily living due to their symptoms.
Doctors need to rule out these causes before a psychiatric diagnosis is made.
Early recognition and treatment can slow, stop, or in some cases even reverse the effects of psychosis.
Parents need to be informed about what to look for and where to turn for help.
Many parents may rely on their child’s doctor to identify signs of mental illness or psychosis.
Teens with psychosis start to lose touch with certain aspects of reality.
Symptoms may appear for a while and then disappear.
A teen who is experiencing psychosis is likely to feel confused, embarrassed, and even afraid.
Signs of psychosis vary from person to person.
Auditory hallucinationsare the most commontype of hallucination.
A teen mayhear voicesthat tell them what to do or warn them of danger.
For some, the voices simply sound like background noise.
Visual hallucinationsinvolve seeing things that arent really there.
A teen may see people or objects that no one else sees.
These hallucinations can fire off the gamut in terms of content and intensity.
A person may detect odors that arent really present, such as perfume, rotten eggs, or garbage.
Some olfactory hallucinations come and go, while others may be present all the time.
Teens with psychosis may also experience “phantom” physical sensations.
Delusions
Teens who experiencedelusionshave fixed false beliefs that are inconsistent with their culture.
Even when there is no evidence in support of these beliefs, teens experiencing psychosis will maintain their delusions.
Their sentences may not make sense and their speech may contain meaningless words.
Thedisordered thinkingthat results from psychosis can affect focus, concentration, and make teens feel uneasy relating to others.
What Causes Psychosis in Teens?
One systematic review and meta-analysis found that teens who use cannabis have a higher risk of developing psychosis.
Using marijuana at an early age is associated with a higher risk of later developing psychosis.
Researchers suspect marijuana couldinterfere with normal brain development.
Research has suggested that when teens use marijuana, it may increase their vulnerability to psychosis through this mechanism.
How Is Psychosis in Teens Diagnosed?
Psychosis is a symptom of a diagnosable condition rather than being one in and of itself.
Questionnaires and Personal Interviews
The screening tools used for psychosis are usually questionnaires.
Sometimes, a doctor might want to order other tests to determine the cause for psychosis.
How to Treat Psychosis in Teens
There isnt a cure for psychosis, but there are treatments.
Family Intervention
Family intervention is key for teens with psychosis.
Studies show that parental participation can be highly protective against relapse.
Family-focused interventions may include psychoeducation, communication skills training, andproblem-solving therapy.
A supportive home environment and learning how to assist a teens efforts are instrumental to recovery.
It’s also helpful for parents to learn how to adjust rules and expectations at home.
Parents of teens with psychosis often experience guilt and anxiety.
Medication
Some teens with psychosis may benefit from medication.
Antipsychotic medication can help balance certain brain chemicals that contribute to hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking.
There are many different options for psychotherapy, which may be used in conjunction with medications.
One example iscognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT).
A person with psychosis who understands their symptoms will be better equipped to cope with them.
Life skills training is also a crucial component of treatment.
You may even experience a sense of grief.
Caregivingcan be incredibly stressful, but you should know that you don’t have to go through it alone.
There are resources, support, and coping strategies that can help.
Talk to your teens doctor about your concerns.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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