Psychosis is a collection of symptoms that can undermine a person’s ability to perceive reality clearly or accurately. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are examples of conditions that can cause psychosis, but it can also occur in response to other mental illnesses or life circumstances. As described by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), psychosis typically includes hallucinations, delusions, or both.
People who are struggling with psychosis may have a hard time carrying out everyday activities or interacting with others. At Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan, adolescents and adults can get the treatment they need to regain control and significantly improve their well-being.
Signs & Symptoms of Psychosis
The nature and severity of psychosis can vary greatly from one person to another depending on a variety of individual factors. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Seeing people or images that don’t exist
- Hearing voices or other sounds that aren’t real
- Believing things that can easily be disproved or that clearly have no basis in reality
- Rapidly and unpredictably switching among various disconnected topics of conversation
- Speaking in a manner that is difficult or impossible to understand
- Making repetitive movements
- Echoing words spoken by others
- Demonstrating little or no reaction to surroundings or stimuli (this is known clinically as catatonic behavior)
- Having a flat affect, which can include monotone speech patterns and minimal facial expressions
- Lack of motivation and inability to complete goal-directed activities
- Apparent lack of attention to grooming and personal hygiene
- Minimal to no interest in working, attending school, or participating in any social activities
- Diminished ability to experience pleasure
When dealing with symptoms like these, individuals may feel isolated, confused, and frightened. However, with the support of a qualified professional, people can find relief, build coping skills, and work toward a healthier and more satisfying life.
Psychosis Statistics
The following psychosis statistics were reported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the World Health Organization (WHO):
- Experts estimate that around 15-100 people out of every 100,000 develop psychosis annually (NIMH).
- Globally, more than two-thirds of people who live with psychosis do not receive proper care (WHO).
- Every year, about 100,000 adolescents and young adults have a psychotic episode for the first time (NIMH).
Causes of & Risk Factors for Psychosis
No single cause is associated with psychosis, but research suggests that genetic and environmental influences can increase a person’s susceptibility.
Common causes and risk factors include:
- Having a relative who suffered from psychosis or a psychotic disorder
- Existing mental health concerns, such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder
- Medical conditions, particularly those that affect the nervous system
- Drug or alcohol use
- Exposure to trauma or extreme stressors
- Sleep deprivation
Potential Effects of Untreated Psychosis
When a person needs but does not receive proper professional help, they may be at elevated risk for many negative effects of psychosis.
Depending on the type and severity of the symptoms a person has been experiencing, the quality of their support network, and the presence or absence of co-occurring mental health concerns, potential adverse outcomes of psychosis include:
- Substandard progress in school
- Inability to find and keep a job
- Diminished or ruined relationships with family members and peers
- Legal or financial difficulties
- Health problems due to poor self-care or an inability to follow medical advice
- Onset or worsening of other mental health concerns
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Homelessness
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Psychosis can cause considerable harm to a person’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. This underscores the necessity of seeking guidance from a healthcare provider. Early intervention can help people avoid or begin to heal from the complications of psychosis.
Benefits of Psychosis Treatment
Anyone who is living with untreated psychosis is likely to feel overwhelmed. It can be hard to have successful conversations let alone maintain relationships that serve as the foundation for a fulfilling life.
The benefits of receiving professional psychosis treatment are far-reaching. At a psychosis treatment center, you’ll be able to hone the strategies that can help you overcome the battles you’re fighting and begin to understand that this illness doesn’t define you.
Episodes of psychosis can be scary, but with the proper support, you’ll learn to identify what is real and what is not. You’ll learn to manage the behaviors that may have kept you from achieving sustained progress in the past. Moreover, you’ll benefit from the shared bonds of others who are living with similar concerns.
Feeling trapped and like there’s no clear path forward is an unsettling place to be, but psychosis treatment can help. The team at Henry Ford can help you find a renewed sense of purpose and show you that your best days are ahead of you.
Therapies Used To Treat Psychosis
If you receive psychosis treatment at Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital, your care will include a number of research-backed, evidence-based therapies.
At the admissions stage, you will complete a comprehensive assessment that helps our team create a custom care plan for you. We’ll use the information we gather to adapt our programming to meet your unique needs.
Once you begin, your psychosis treatment may include:
- Medication management services
- Experiential therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Basic medical care
Led by social workers, group therapy is the foundation of our inpatient programming. We utilize dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help patients cultivate skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Our experiential offerings include art, music, and recreation therapies.
How To Select the Right Treatment Center for Psychosis
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating psychosis because it affects everyone differently. Therefore, it’s important to find a psychosis treatment center where the staff cares for the whole person and considers your unique history and the presenting nature of the illness you’re suffering from. By selecting a facility that takes a personalized approach, you can assure that your specific needs will be the top priority from the time of admission until long after discharge.
When you’re looking for a psychosis treatment center, consider the following questions:
- Are there different therapies that will help me discover multiple methods of healing?
- Which type of treatment team will I work with?
- Will I be able to forget about the daily distractions of life and focus solely on my health?
- Will there be a plan in place for when I’m done with treatment?
These aren’t all the questions you should ask, but all these factors can shape the success of your psychosis treatment.
Why Choose Our Michigan Psychosis Treatment Center
Choosing a psychosis treatment center requires careful consideration. Wanting to improve your long-term outcome is extremely admirable, but it’s also important to thoroughly evaluate your options before settling on a decision.
You want to make sure that you choose a facility that best meets your needs and allows you to focus on your health with minimal distraction. Our team of behavioral health experts is dedicated to making that happen.
During your time at Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan, you may work with the following staff members:
- Psychiatrists
- Family medicine physicians
- Psychiatric nurse practitioners
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Dietitians
- Art, music, and recreation therapists
- Mental health technicians
At the conclusion of your time in psychosis treatment, we’ll provide you with a detailed discharge plan. This will reflect the progress you’ve made with us, and it may include information about follow-up care and ongoing resources that can help you continue to thrive long after you leave our facility.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital.