Early Warning Signs of Psychosis

Early warning signs of psychosis can often be difficult to detect. But if you know what to look for, you may be able help a loved one get the treatment they need before they reach a crisis point.

What Is Psychosis?

Psychosis refers to a group of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to accurately perceive their environment and effectively communicate with other people. Examples of psychotic symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts, and negative symptoms:

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are perceptions of stimuli that don’t actually exist.

The three most common types are: 

• Auditory – Hearing voices or other sounds that no one else can hear
• Visual – Seeing light patterns, objects, or people that aren’t really there
• Tactile – Phantom sensations, such as feeling that bugs are crawling over or beneath your skin

Though not as common, some people also have hallucinations involve the senses of smell (olfactory) and taste (gustatory).

Delusions 

These are seemingly strange beliefs that a person will cling to fervently, despite having no evidence or even after being presented with evidence that clearly disproves them.

Examples of psychosis-related delusions include:

• Claiming you have some extraordinary hidden talent or even some type of magical powers
• Believing that you are being sent coded messages through TV shows or other media
• Thinking that you are in a relationship with a famous person that you’ve never actually met
• Accusing friends, family members, or neighbors of spying on you or plotting against you
• Feeling like you are being manipulated or controlled by aliens, a government, or some shadowy organization

Disorganized Thoughts

Though this is a cognitive symptom, it is usually observable in a person’s speech patterns and communication skills.

Examples include:

• Speaking extremely quickly or virtually incomprehensibly
• Abruptly jumping from one topic to another with no explanation or logical progression
• Answering questions with totally unrelated statements
• Choosing words based on their sounds or if they rhyme, instead of for the information they convey
• Using made-up words that have no meaning to anyone but you

Negative Symptoms

As the name indicates, negative symptoms are characterized not by what a person does, but by what they don’t do.

Examples include:

• Using few to no facial expressions
• Using very few words and/or speaking in flat, monotone voice
• Having little to no interest in associating with other people
• Anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure or joy 

What Causes Psychosis?

There are myriad reasons why someone might begin to develop symptoms of psychosis, including various mental illnesses, medical conditions, and behavioral or environmental influences.

Mental Illnesses

From a mental health perspective, psychosis is probably most closely associated with schizophrenia.

But psychotic symptoms are also typical among people who have:

• Schizoaffective disorder
• Schizophreniform disorder
• Brief psychotic disorder
• Delusional disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder

Though not as common, people who have particularly severe cases of bipolar disorder or depression may also sometimes exhibit signs of psychosis.

Medical Conditions

Examples of the many medical and neurological conditions that have been associated with psychotic symptoms include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Huntington’s disease
• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Epilepsy
• Malnutrition
• Vitamin deficiencies

Behavioral & Environmental Influences

In some cases, early signs of psychosis may be related to certain behaviors or experiences, such as:

• Recreational drug use
• Taking some prescription medications
• Sleep deprivation
• Experiencing overwhelming stress or pressure
• Being traumatized

What Are the Early Warning Signs of Psychosis?

Early warning signs of psychosis can include unexplained changes in a personality traits, thought processes, and behavior patterns.

An important note before we proceed: On their own, none of the signs below are definitive proof that someone is beginning to develop psychosis. But if a person displays multiple warning signs, and if these signs represent significant changes from how they typically act, it may be time for them to be evaluated by their doctor or assessed by a qualified mental health professional.

Emotional & Cognitive Changes

In terms of how a person thinks and feels, possible early warning signs of psychosis include:

• Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
• Forgetfulness and indecisiveness
• Having trouble organizing their thoughts
• Becoming easily confused
• Sudden mood swings
• Excessive or otherwise inappropriate emotional outbursts
• Emotional numbness

Behavioral Changes

Behavioral signs that someone may be struggling with psychosis include:

• Dramatic shifts in energy and activity level
• Downturn in performance at work or in school
• Speaking much faster or slower than usual 
• Making statements that don’t make sense or are difficult to follow
• Uncharacteristic agitation or recklessness
• Adopting odd mannerisms or movements
• Sleeping much more or less than usual
• Neglecting their appearance or personal hygiene

Social Changes

Early psychosis may also cause shifts in a person’s interests and social interactions, such as:

• Failing to read obvious social clues
• No longer participating in activities they used to enjoy
• Losing or ending friendships
• Becoming suspicious or distrustful of others
• Withdrawing from friends and family

How Is Psychosis Treated?

Appropriate treatment for psychosis can vary considerably depending on many personal factors, including the type, severity, and cause of a person’s symptoms.

For people whose early signs of psychosis are related to schizophrenia or another mental health concern, treatment frequently involves a combination of medication, therapy, and ongoing support.

The medications that may be incorporated into a person’s treatment plan include:

• Antipsychotics
• Mood stabilizers
• Antidepressants
• Anxiolytics (anti-anxiety meds)

Therapies and support services that may be beneficial for someone with early symptoms of psychosis include:

• Individual psychotherapy
• Group therapy
• Family counseling and education
• Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
• Case management services
• Supported employment and/or education

Find Treatment for Psychosis in Tennessee

Time Wellness Tennessee is a safe and welcoming place where adults can receive customized treatment services for psychosis, other mental health symptoms, and addictions.

Treatment options at our centers in Chattanooga and Taft, TN, include:

• Residential program
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Outpatient program (OP)
• Virtual (online) services

In each of these programs, all clients can expect to receive personalized care and compassionate support from a team of highly skilled professionals. 

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.