Psychosis: What is it and can it be treated?

Powerful strains of cannabis found in London are driving psychosis rates to the highest levels recorded in Europe, a new study has found.

The research, conducted by King’s College London, found that super-strength skunk has been linked to a third of mental health cases recorded in south east London hospitals.

As a result, doctors are now warning that cannabis smoking is placing an “enormous burden” on the city’s strained psychiatric units.

While many factors can contribute to the onset of psychosis, the researchers found that smoking cannabis daily tripled the chances of developing the condition.

However, stronger strains, which contain levels of the active ingredient Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) above 10 per cent, increased the chances even more.

But, what is exactly is psychosis and can it be treated?

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a mental health problem that causes people to perceive or interpret things differently from those around them, the NHS states.

When someone is experiencing symptoms of psychosis it is often referred to as having a “psychotic experience” or “psychotic episode”.

What are the symptoms of psychosis?

According to mental health charity Mind, psychosis affects people in many different ways, and while one person might experience it just once, others may have short episodes throughout their life, or live with the condition most of the time.

Typically, there are two main symptoms of psychosis: hallucinations and delusions.

Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don’t exist outside their mind, the NHS states.

Delusions are where a person has “an unshakeable belief in something untrue”. Common delusions can include someone believing there is a conspiracy to harm them or when a person believes they have power or authority.

People who have psychotic episodes are often unaware that their delusions or hallucinations aren't real, which may lead them to feel frightened or distressed.

Disorganised thinking, sometimes called “formal thought disorder”, can also be a symptom of psychosis, Mind states.

A person with disorganised thinking may speak very quickly and stumble over their words, change the topic of conversation very quickly and link words together because of the way they sound rather than what they mean.

What causes psychosis?

The NHS states that psychosis is often the result of a specific mental health condition, such as:

• schizophrenia – a condition that causes a range of psychological symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions 
• bipolar disorder – a mental health condition that affects mood; a person with bipolar disorder can have episodes of low mood (depression) and highs or elated mood (mania) 
• severe depression – some people with depression also have symptoms of psychosis when they're very depressed 

However, a person can also experience psychosis on its own. In these cases, the condition can also be triggered by stress, drug or alcohol misuse, physical illness or injury, bereavement and hunger.

Mind also states that a person is more likely to experience psychosis if a blood relative has also experienced it.

Can psychosis be treated?

While there isn’t always a quick and simple treatment for psychosis, it is possible to manage the symptoms of the condition and recover, the NHS states.

However, this does not guarantee that psychosis will go away entirely.

According to the NHS, the main treatments for psychosis include antipsychotic mediation – which can help relieve symptoms – and psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and family intervention or systemic therapy.

What can you do to help cope with psychosis?

As well as medication and therapy, Mind suggests a number of things a person experiencing psychosis can do to help themselves.

These include joining peer support groups through organisations like the Hearing Voices Network and Bipolar UK, keeping a diary of your triggers, learning relaxation techniques and taking care of yourself by ensuring you get enough sleep, exercise and have a healthy diet.

The charity also suggests having a crisis plan in which you tell people what will help you during an episode.

If you are a friend or family member of someone with psychosis, Mind suggests listening and trying to understand the condition, offering practical help and attending family therapy.

It also says that getting support for yourself is important as seeing someone you care about experiencing psychosis can be distressing or even frightening.

Where can you go for support and advice?

If you are concerned that you or a loved one has psychosis, you should contact your GP.

There are also a number of organisations you can reach out to for further information and support, including:

Bipolar UK - 0333 323 3880

Support for people with bipolar disorder (including hypomania) and their families and friends.

Hearing Voices Network - 0114 271 8210

Information and support for people who hear voices and local support groups.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - 0845 003 7780

Provides guidance on health and social care.

National Paranoia Network - 0114 271 8210

Information and support for people who experience paranoid thoughts.

Rethink Mental Illness - 0300 5000 927

Information and support for people affected by severe mental illness