(2023, July) | Useful for Parent Centers, community organizations, and families supporting teens and youth with psychosis
This series of articles comes from the Child Mind Institute, with most articles available in English and Spanish. Organized as a newsletter, the stand-alone articles examine one of the most alarming symptoms of a mental health disorder in a teenager or young adult: psychosis, or losing touch with reality.
A young person who seemed fine is suddenly hearing voices or having disturbing, unrealistic thoughts. This often results in dangerous behavior that sends kids to the emergency room. When this happens it’s called a first psychotic episode, and it usually (but not always) signals the onset of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
There are early signs of developing psychosis that, if they’re caught, can help kids get support that can head off a full-blown crisis. And there is now specialized treatment after a first psychotic episode that enables patients with schizophrenia to get back to their lives and dramatically reduces the likelihood that they will have later episodes. Also discussed is: how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help young people with psychosis; what it looks like when children develop schizophrenia; and what to expect if you find yourself needing to take your child to an emergency room.
Access the entire newsletter here. For your convenience we’ve also listed the individual articles (and links to their English and Spanish versions) below.
Watching for Signs of Psychosis in Teens
(Spanish | Señales de psicosis a observar en adolescentes)
Early Treatment for Schizophrenia
(Spanish | El tratamiento temprano para la esquizofrenia mejora los resultados)
Bipolar Disorder: Why It’s Often Misdiagnosed
(Spanish | Trastorno bipolar: Por qué suele ser mal diagnosticado)
How Does CBT Help People With Psychosis?
(Spanish | ¿Cómo ayuda la TCC a las personas con psicosis?)
Childhood Schizophrenia: What Are the First Signs?
(Spanish | Esquizofrenia infantil: ¿Cuáles son las primeras señales?)
Taking a Child to the Emergency Room
(Spanish | Información útil si lleva a un niño a urgencias)