Psychosis at 22

[Anonymous]

My nephew was just diagnosed with psychosis at 22. Can he “outgrow” it? Live a normal life?

[Anonymous]

Since he’s your nephew, why don’t you leave that to his doctors and focus on supporting your sibling for now.

[Anonymous]

That’s a tough one. A lot will depend on treatment and cooperation with treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since he’s your nephew, why don’t you leave that to his doctors and focus on supporting your sibling for now.

I don't see OP's post as wanting to interfere in nephew's treatment. OP seems anxious about the health and future of someone they love. Totally understandable.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what is causing it. Sometimes, it’s an infection. My kid’s neurologist has seen psychosis caused by Lyme disease, Bartonella, strep and mold exposure to name a few. There has also been a lot in the news about marijuana causing psychosis in teens and young adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what is causing it. Sometimes, it’s an infection. My kid’s neurologist has seen psychosis caused by Lyme disease, Bartonella, strep and mold exposure to name a few. There has also been a lot in the news about marijuana causing psychosis in teens and young adults.

100% this. Are they using "psychosis" to avoid saying schizophrenia? My brother had his first psychotic break at about that age - onset of schizophrenia (typical age of onset for boys). Unfortunately, it does not go away - it just gets worse.

[Anonymous]

Psychosis is more of a symptom than a diagnosis. Antipsychotics can be very effective.

— an extremely successful person with bipolar who has had occasional paranoia with both depression and mania.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be some promise in early psychosis clinics if that's a possibility

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/01/02/1221097477/it-keeps-people-with-schizophrenia-in-school-and-on-the-job-why-wont-insurance-p

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what is causing it. Sometimes, it’s an infection. My kid’s neurologist has seen psychosis caused by Lyme disease, Bartonella, strep and mold exposure to name a few. There has also been a lot in the news about marijuana causing psychosis in teens and young adults.

100% this. Are they using "psychosis" to avoid saying schizophrenia? My brother had his first psychotic break at about that age - onset of schizophrenia (typical age of onset for boys). Unfortunately, it does not go away - it just gets worse.

Not necessarily -- read up on "the rule of thirds" for schizophrenia.

[Anonymous]

Psychosis is a symptom, not a disease.

It's like saying "I have lesion on my skin. Can I outgrow lesioning?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Psychosis is more of a symptom than a diagnosis. Antipsychotics can be very effective.

— an extremely successful person with bipolar who has had occasional paranoia with both depression and mania.

I'd chime in that my wife had similar psychotic features to her bipolar around that age, but getting on the right medicine really helped. She hasn't had the psychotic elements since that time. As you say, though, it's a symptom, what causes it matters a ton in terms of the prognosis.

[Anonymous]

From my experience with a family member, yes, a normal life is possible. Her first was at 19. She had a rough time finding the right meds, and had more episodes and hospitalizations, but with age lessened, and now at 36, has a professional job & boyfriend and from the outside you'd never know.