Understanding Psychosis

It is surprisingly common to see or hear things that other people don’t, or to hold beliefs that other people might find unusual. Up to 1 in 10 people say that they have heard voices, or seen things that aren’t there at least once in their lifetime (McGrath et al, 2015; Bevan et al, 2011). If you keep having experiences like this in a way which causes you distress, and prevents you from living your life as you want, you may be experiencing psychosis.

The Understanding Psychosis guide is designed to help clients experiencing symptoms of psychosis understand more about the condition. As well as a clear description of symptoms and treatments, the guide explores key maintenance factors for psychosis including:

• Interpreting triggers in unusual and threatening ways.
• Your past, your beliefs, and assumptions.
• Using strategies to try to control your thoughts.
• Safety behaviors and avoidance.

Our ‘Understanding…’ series is designed to support your clients:

• Scaffold knowledge. The guides are perfect during early stages of therapy to help your clients understand how their symptoms fit together and make sense.
• Reassure and encourage optimism. Many clients find it hugely reassuring to know there is a name for what they are experiencing, and that there are evidence-based psychological models and treatments specifically designed to help.
• De-mystify the therapy process. To increase your client’s knowledge of the therapy process and the ingredients that it is likely to involve. If you can help your clients to understand why an intervention is important (think exposure!) it can help encourage them to engage.
• Signposting. If you’re just seeing a client briefly for assessment, or you have a curious client who wants to know more, these resources can be a helpful part of guiding them to the right service.
• Waiting time not

• McGrath, J. J., Saha, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Bromet, E. J., Bruffaerts, R., ... & Kessler, R. C. (2015). Psychotic experiences in the general population: a cross-national analysis based on 31 261 respondents from 18 countries. JAMA psychiatry, 72(7), 697-705. 
• Beavan, V., Read, J., & Cartwright, C. (2011). The prevalence of voice-hearers in the general population: a literature review. Journal of Mental Health, 20(3), 281-292. 
• National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (2014). Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: treatment and management.
• “Seeing, hearing or sensing someone who has died” (nd.). Cruse Bereavement Care. https://www.cruse.org.uk/get-help/about-grief/seeing-hearing-or-sensing-someone-who-has-died
• British Psychological Society. Division of Clinical Psychology. (2017). Understanding psychosis and schizophrenia. British Psychological Society.
• Pitt, L., Kilbride, M., Nothard, S., Welford, M., & Morrison, A. P. (2007). Researching recovery from psychosis: a user-led project. Psychiatric Bulletin, 31(2), 55-60. 
• Varese, F., Smeets, F., Drukker, M.,