Psychosis cont.
– Pretend that you can also see, hear, or feel the hallucinations they are experiencing – Take any delusional comments personally Instead, respond to the young person’s delusions without agreeing with them by saying something like “that must be horrible for you” or “I can see that you are upset.” (229) Ask the young person if they have an advance health care directive. An advance health care directive is a document used by a person with a long-term mental health condition describing how the person wants to be treated when they are unable to make their own decisions. It is not a legal document, but an agreement made between the person, their family, and their usual mental health professional or team. It may include the person’s preferences about which hospital they will go to if they are unwell and who should be contacted in case of emergency. Treatment: Combination of anti-psychotic medicines , psychological therapies , and social support usually delivered by EIP teams or crisis resolution and home treatment teams. In addition, treatment can include CBT, or it can involve education, employment and occupational activities for children. During severe episodes of psychosis, hospital treatment may be necessary, although this is usually avoided where possible. Other supports: Family and friends are a very important source of support for a young person experiencing psychosis. They can also help the young person develop an advance directive or crisis plan. Support groups, such as Hearing Voices Network , can be helpful both to the young person experiencing psychosis and to other family members to make sense of voices, visions, and tactile sensations. Such groups operate on the principle that, for
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