Severe psychotic states If a young person lives with a psychotic disorder, they may at times experience severe psychotic states when they become very unwell. Some young people experience a severe psychotic state rarely, for example once every few years, whilst others might experience them more frequently, for example several times a year. A severe psychotic state can occur without an apparent cause, due to specific triggers such as stress or life events. This can include positive life changes as well as negative ones. Forgetting to take medication, or choosing not to, can also cause a psychotic episode. Associated crises Aggressive behaviour . Although aggressive behaviour is rare, sometimes a young person in a severe psychotic state may threaten violence. This is more likely if alcohol or drug use is involved. Signs A severe psychotic state may develop gradually over a few days, or it may seem to come on very suddenly. For this reason, early signs should be addressed as quickly as possible. A young person in a severe psychotic state can have: – Overwhelming delusions and hallucinations – Very disorganised thinking – Seemingly bizarre and disruptive behaviours The young person may appear very distressed, or their behaviours may be disturbing to others. When a young person is in this state, they can come to harm unintentionally because of their delusions or hallucinations. For example, they may believe they have special powers to protect them from danger such as jumping from a
Page 307
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker