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Psychotic disorders are one of the most severe mental health problems to be diagnosed with. Signs of psychotic disorders in teens can be difficult to recognize at first as they may resemble the symptoms of depression, anxiety or substance abuse.
About 3% of Americans will experience an episode of psychosis. It is common to experience the first episode as a teen or young adult. It’s important for parents to recognize the signs of psychosis in teens to provide early intervention and get them the treatment they need.
What Are Psychotic Disorders in Teens?
Psychotic disorders in teens are a cluster of severe mental health disorders that affect one’s ability to think rationally, communicate clearly and regulate their emotions. Psychotic disorders are also characterized by problems with perception such as hallucinations and delusional thinking, although these are not always present.
Some of the most common psychotic disorders diagnosed in teens include:
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective personality disorder
- Schizotypal personality disorder
- Paranoid personality disorder
- Bipolar Disorder (does not always present with psychotic symptoms)
- Depression with psychotic features
How Do Psychotic Disorders Affect Teens?
Psychotic disorders can take a deep toll on the lives of teens. Most of the time psychotic disorders will require professional mental health support to manage symptoms. Struggling with a psychotic disorder, especially untreated, can affect a number of areas of life:
- Drop in school performance
- Relationship problems
- Increased risk of substance abuse
- Difficulties holding down a job
- Homelessness
- Violent episodes
- Problems with the legal system
Risk Factors of Developing A Psychotic Disorder
There are a number of factors that can heighten the risk of teens developing a psychotic disorder or symptoms of psychosis. These can be biological, psychological, or environmental. Some of the potential factors that heighten the risk of developing a psychotic disorder as a teen include:
- Family history of psychosis
- Drug use (especially with marijuana or stimulants)
- Experiencing ongoing trauma in childhood
- Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
- Chronic inflammation
- Having an older father at birth
- Secondary symptom to certain physical health problems such as brain tumor, infection, metabolic disorders or seizures
Signs of Psychosis In Teens
Sometimes psychosis can be difficult to spot at first. Psychotic disorders are often stigmatized and people with psychosis portrayed in the media often do not reflect how it is in real life. Although patients with psychosis can be violent or aggressive at times, this is not always present with psychosis.
Sometimes the signs of psychosis can resemble other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or bipolar. Some of the signs of early psychosis in teens include:
- Isolation and social withdrawal
- Difficulty organizing thoughts and speech
- Lack of self-care and hygiene
- Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Unusual ideas or behaviors
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep disturbances
- Feeling like things aren’t real
- Delusional thinking (thinking people are out to get them, ideas of religious persecution, violent intrusive thoughts, etc)
- Hallucinations (can be visual or auditory)
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
Only about ⅓ of teens who experience the first signs of a psychotic disorder known as “prodromal symptoms” will go on to develop full psychosis. If early psychosis is caught and treated, the results for a better outcome increase drastically.
High-stress situations can also trigger symptoms of psychosis. For teens who have the risk factors of psychotic disorders, it is important to practice stress reduction techniques and good mental health care practices to prevent symptoms of psychosis.
Treatment Available for Psychotic Disorders
Most teens will need multiple interventions to manage symptoms of psychosis and prevent future episodes. These could include medication, therapy, home-based interventions, academic support, and in severe cases residential treatment.
Understand some of the most common treatments used for psychotic disorders in teens:
- Medications such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers may be prescribed to help manage symptoms
- DBT is used to help beak delusional thinking patterns, promote self-awareness, increase mindfulness and learn how to regulate emotions
- Family therapy may be recommended to help teens with psychotic disorders build routines and structure in the home
- Residential treatment may be recommended for extreme cases of psychosis especially if hallucinations or violent outbursts are present
Seeking Professional Help
If you identify warning signs of psychosis in your teen, reach out for professional support to help find the best plan of treatment.
At Clearfork Academy our team of compassionate, licensed therapists understands the complex nature of psychotic disorders in teens. Reach out to our Admissions team to learn more.
Sources
Psychosis. National Alliance of Mental Health.
Mike grew up on a dairy farm in Parker County, Texas. At the age of 59, he went back to college and graduated 41 years after his first graduation from Weatherford College. God placed on his heart at that time the passion to begin to help others as they walked from addictions, alcoholism, and abuse of substances. He is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and in the past few years he has worn many hats, from intake and assessment, group counseling, individual and family counseling, intensive outpatient and now he is working with clients, therapist, and families on discharge planning and aftercare. He also coordinates our Alumni Outreach Program.
