When a person first sees a doctor for symptoms of psychosis, it is often at the urging of a loved one. Typically, people dealing with psychosis are too confused by or ashamed of their conditions to go to a doctor on their own.
It is important that the families and friends of people with psychosis be as supportive as possible in the detection, diagnosis and treatment process of psychosis.
The first experience a patient has with psychiatric care is crucial, as it can determine how the rest of his or her diagnosis and treatment experience will go. That initial experience must be treated sensitively since there is an unfortunate stigma attached to mental health issues that might cause patients to feel uncomfortable around the wrong psychiatric caretakers. Patients also often need to be reassured of complete confidentiality when it comes to their diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosis of psychosis usually takes more than just one doctor or therapist.
Collaboration is necessary for determining the underlying cause of psychosis–whether that’s a mental illness like schizophrenia or a physical ailment like a brain tumor–and the best way to treat it.
A patient should first start by seeking counsel from his or her primary care physician, who can then refer the patient to a doctor who can better assist in caring for the mental and physical health of the patient. However, it is likely that a patient’s primary care physician will still be involved in the diagnosis and treatment processes on the road to recovery. Doctors working as a team to combat psychosis is also important because each and every psychosis patient is different.
Collaboration also provides a balance of all the necessary elements in treatment, which according to research include drug therapies, psychological therapy, family therapy, and social therapy, along with continued education of patients and loved ones throughout the process.
Treatment will also depend on what stage of psychosis the patient is in when he or she seeks medical and mental health help. Early detection allows doctors to give their patients the best chance of recovering from their psychosis, while late detection must be treated more carefully and has less of a chance of being effective.
The first step in the diagnosis process is a thorough examination of a patient’s mental state.
This will include one or more doctors asking a series of questions related to symptoms the patient has been experiencing. This assessment will also help doctors determine any habits or underlying health issues that the patient might be experiencing as well as if the patient is a risk to himself or others.
The next step will be determining what treatment is best for the patient and beginning those treatments on a trial basis. Once treatment has begun, doctors and psychologists will schedule multiple follow-up appointments with the patient to determine whether or not the treatment is working or whether it should be changed or adjusted.
If you would like to know more about the diagnosis process for psychosis or have any other questions regarding psychosis, schizophrenia or other mental health issues, please reach out to us. We are here to help you.