ABSTRACT
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Age Concern England Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER Tel 0800 009 966 www.ace.org.uk
Alzheimer’s Society 10 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PH Tel 0845 300 0336 www.alzheimers.org.uk
Alzheimer’s Disease International Tel 020 7981 0880 www.alz.co.uk
Benefits Enquiry Helpline (BEL) Freephone 0800 882 200 www.dwp.gov.uk
Bipolar Aware www.bipolaraware.co.uk
Carers UK Tel 0808 808 7777 www.carersuk.org
Hearing Voices Network 79 Lever Street Manchester M1 1FT 0845 122 8641 www.hearing-voices.org
Help the Aged Tel 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk
Manic Depression Fellowship www.mdf.org.uk
The Mental Health Act Commission Tel 0115 943 7100 www.mhac.org.uk
Mind 15-19 Broadway, London E15 4BQ Tel 0208 519 2122 www.mind.org.uk
Samaritans 24-hour confidential emotional support Tel 0845 790 9090 www.samaritans.org
SANELINE Tel 0845 767 8000 www.sane.org.uk
Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship)
The signs and symptoms of psychosis are many and varied and can change over time. The person experiences a distorted view of reality which may include hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking. When someone becomes unwell in this way, it is often called a psychotic episode. Many people will experience psychotic symptoms at some time in their life, for example following sleep deprivation or bereavement, but this is usually short lived. Some studies estimate that psychosis is more common than diabetes. Many people will have a one-off first episode of psychosis and make a full recovery, but for others the symptoms persist over time or they will have relapses, with symptoms returning. There are a number of different types of psychosis, the most common being:
Schizophrenia – this is the most common form of psychosis and the diagnosis is given if the person experiences psychotic symptoms for over six months. One person in every hundred will have the condition, which usually strikes people between the ages of 18-35.
