“Psychosis” is a medical term, which means trouble telling the difference between what is real and what is not real. Psychosis includes multiple human experiences or symptoms. Like any mental health experience (e.g., anxiety, depression), psychosis experiences are seen as being on a spectrum, or ranging in intensity or severity (i.e., mild, to moderate, to severe; or from 0 to 100). Psychosis is not a diagnosis in itself – these experiences can be related to many diagnoses, or not be a diagnosis at all. These experiences are more common than we often think they are. 

 

There are several types of experiences that may be seen as psychosis symptoms. Changes in perception (sometimes called "hallucinations"), are when people hear, see, smell, taste, or feel (touch) something when there is nothing in the external world causing that perception. Unusual thoughts (sometimes called "delusions" when they get stronger), are when people think things that do not match up with the external world (e.g., suspicious or mind reading thoughts). Disorganization is when people have trouble matching what they say or their behavior to the current situation (e.g., it is difficult to understand what the person says, or trouble taking care of yourself). 

When psychosis experiences get stronger (closer to 100), people sometimes stop being able to question or doubt their psychosis symptoms, and think the psychosis symptoms are real, for a longer period of time. Sometimes we call this full psychosis. When people have full psychosis for the first time, we call this "first episode psychosis." 

Risk refers to how likely one is to have a certain problem. Someone at low risk is less likely than someone at high risk to develop the problem.

For example, in a thunderstorm, everyone may have some very small risk of being hit by lightning. However, a person standing on the top of a mountain (especially if they hold a metal pole!) is at higher risk than a person at lower altitudes or inside. Folks at higher risk are still unlikely to be hit by lightning, but getting off the mountain further reduces their risk.

Being at risk for psychosis is similar. We all probably carry some risk for psychosis, but some things make people at higher risk than others. Certain symptoms place someone at higher risk of developing psychosis within the next year or more. However, just like with lightning, even those at higher risk may still be more likely not to develop psychosis than to develop psychosis. They are just at higher risk than others (like the people at the top of the mountain in a thunderstorm).

For some people, the symptoms will get better on their own, while for others, the symptoms may become more intense or problematic. Although we cannot yet predict with certainty who will and will not develop psychosis over time, we may have an opportunity to help someone not develop psychosis if we see him or her early enough. Getting help early is a little like getting off the mountain or lake in a thunderstorm.

There are several risk factors for psychosis. At PEACS, we engage people with the clinical signs and symptoms that indicate high risk for psychosis within a relatively short time frame. Our hope is to reduce risk for worsening symptoms.

 

Despite how common mental health problems are in young people, many young people and families do not seek or receive help. Barriers to seeking further help include:

• Difficulty recognizing that a problem is developing
• Trouble seeing problems as a reason to seek help
• Concerns about stigma related to mental health symptoms
• Social and cultural factors that decrease willingness to seek help (e.g., feeling ashamed)
• Difficulty finding, choosing, or paying for help
• Negative past experiences with seeking help
  

Stigma about mental health problems is common and is related to decreased willingness to seek help. Unfortunately, many young people and families learn about mental illness in the media, which tends to present negative images of mental illness and those who experience it. This stigma is particularly strong when it comes to psychosis and related symptoms. For this reason, PEACS offers free trainings and education, to work towards decreasing negative beliefs about early psychosis.