ABSTRACT
Stress appears to have both a general and a specific effect on people with psychosis. The development of a psychotic illness is itself a very significant life event and commonly leads to other profound changes in relationships, living environment, work, education, financial situation, recreation and personal achievement. People with mental illness often have minimal social contact due to reduced social abilities, fear of social situations, stigma and discrimination or simply due to being unable to attend work or other social settings because of psychotic symptoms. People commonly show deterioration in work performance in the period prior to developing acute psychotic symptoms. Psychosis often develops in early adulthood when people are becoming independent and moving out of the family home, sometimes to a different geographical location and usually coinciding with changes in social environment, employment or education. To deal effectively with stressors, assertive interactions with other people are often required.
