 his/herself or others, hospitalization may be necessary. When psychotic patients are unresponsive to medications, then electroconvulsive therapy has shown effective when the psychosis is linked to depression.
There is mounting evidence that behavior therapy can help patients deal with psychoses. However, therapy alone is rarely successful in controlling symptoms. It can help patients and their families learn coping techniques for dealing with the disorder. Depending on the actual cause of the psychosis, therapy may be effective for curing the underlying condition. Other forms of therapy, such as animal-assisted therapy, can help improve the quality of life and feelings of happiness in people with psychological psychoses.
Where Can I Find Additional Information on Psychosis?
In the United States, one very helpful source of information can be found at the website of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (http://www.nami.org/). You can read about treatment options, support groups and more as well as contact information for the NAMI in your state or local area. http://psychcentral.com/ has a wealth of material about both psychoses and psychological disorders.
Internationally, information provided by My Mental Health (http://www.mymentalhealth.ca/tabid/1091/default.aspx) includes links to resources throughout Europe, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Another wonderful source for families can be found at http://heretohelp.bc.ca/publications/factsheets/psychosis-recovery
Kaplan, H.I., &Sadoc, B.J. (1996). Concise Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins.
Morey, B., &Mueser, K.T. (2007). The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness: Recognizing the Symptoms & Getting Treatment. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Morrison, J. (2002). Straight Talk About Your Mental Health: Everything You Need to Know to Make Smart Decisions. New York: The Guilford Press.
Venes, D., & Thomas, C.L. (Eds.). (2001). Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (19th ed.).Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.