When an individual experiences First Episode Psychosis (FEP), they will likely experience disruptions in their thoughts and have trouble distinguishing between what is real and what is not. They may hallucinate, experience delusions, and have persistent unusual thoughts and emotions. FEP can lead to changes in behavior due to these changes in the brain’s normal processes.
An individual experiencing FEP should begin treatment as quickly as possible for the best chance of effective treatment.
Common symptoms of FEP include:
There are a variety of possible causes of FEP. They include:
If an individual is at higher risk of psychosis because of genetics, illness, injury, or trauma, they can take measures that may help prevent FEP:
Individuals will often display more subtle changes in their thoughts and behavior before a psychotic episode occurs. If the individual is treated when these warning signs occur, a worse episode might be prevented.
FEP is usually treated with antipsychotic medication and therapy. There are different options for medications and the side effects vary, so the patient will need to work with a psychiatrist to ensure that their medication works well for them with minimal side effects.
The standard of care for FEP is called Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC).
CSC involves family support incorporated into treatment, medication management, psychotherapy, peer support, and support in education and employment after treatment. This treatment takes a holistic approach, ensuring that patients are in control of their mental health, have a support system, and can function in their daily lives. Patients typically experience greatly improved mental health and cognitive function and are able to return to school or work.
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, patients treated with CSC have had better outcomes than general mental health services.
Psychosis can include impairments to cognitive skills such as memory, attention, processing speed, and social cognition. Cognitive skills and mental health are closely intertwined, and a holistic treatment approach should address both of these aspects of brain function.
Due to the improved results revealed from evidence-based studies, HappyNeuron Pro recommends 1 hour a day, 5 days a week, for individuals dealing with psychosis. A total of 50 hours of neuroplasticity-based computerized cognitive training appears sufficient to drive improvements in Verbal Learning, Memory, and Cognitive Processing that endure 6 months beyond the intervention.
Research has shown that exercising cognitive functions affected by psychosis such as working memory, verbal memory, and global cognition can be improved through cognitive training. Through cognitive remediation with HappyNeuron Pro in combination with other elements of CSC treatment, patients may experience improvements in their cognitive functions.
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