Feeling Paranoid

Michael, a 17-year old student, had been behaving in an increasingly odd way over the past eight months.  At times, he appeared quite angry and told some of his friends that he believed he was being watched; at other times he was seen talking to himself.  Michael's attendance at school had become quite irregular and his academic work has deteriorated.  His friends had also noticed that he was not looking after his appearance - his hair and clothes were quite dirty. 

One of Michael's friends, Kapil, was worried about Michael and decided to confront him and ask him what was wrong.  When he confronted him, Michael told Kapil that he was hearing people constantly commenting on his actions, that the police had him under constant surveillance and were interested in stealing his "special powers".  He also told Kapil that he could read other people's minds.

The word psychosis is used to describe mental health problems, which affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality.  When someone becomes ill in this way it is called a psychotic episode.

Psychosis is most likely to occur in young adults and is quite common.  Around 3 out of every 100 young people will have a psychotic episode - making psychosis more common than diabetes in young people.  Most make a full recover from the experience.  Psychosis can happen to anyone.  Like any other illnesses, it can be treated.