Psychosis and Schizophrenia - Dr Jonathan Haverkampf

Psychosis and schizophrenia: articles and PDFs

You will find the original psychosis PDF on a companion page that is easy to read, complete with links to current sources, material on psychotherapy and urgent help. This page gathers clinical articles and PDFs on treatment and communication-focused therapy.

There is no need to try to explain psychosis or make sense of it on your own; it can be an isolating, confusing and frightening condition. You may hear or see things others do not, feel unsafe or overly suspicious, or find your thoughts and speech hard to put in order. None of that is a personal failing. It is cause to ask for the kind of support that is both careful and respectful.

The information here is meant to be general in nature, not a diagnosis or a replacement for medical advice from a professional. Should you be having new or intense experiences that are getting in the way of your day-to-day life, make sure to speak with your GP, a psychiatrist, psychologist or a community mental health team.

When to get urgent help If someone is at risk of coming to harm, is too confused or frightened to function, has not been sleeping for days, or is in rapid decline, do not hesitate to seek out a professional. The same goes for anyone who has recently given birth and is showing signs of postpartum psychosis. In the event of immediate danger, call the emergency services (112 or 999 in Ireland).

What we are talking about Psychosis is a wide term, not just one diagnosis. It can be part of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe stress or depression, trauma, substance use and more. A proper assessment is called for so that treatment can be tailored to the individual and the level of risk involved. Some of what you might encounter includes:

Hallucinations – voices, or sights, smells and tastes that are not there for anyone else.
Delusions or beliefs that are hard for others to follow.
Speech and thinking that is disorganised, racing or blocked.
A withdrawal from the world, loss of drive, flat emotions or sleep problems.
Strain on your work, studies, relationships and trust.

On the subject of treatment, most guidelines will point to antipsychotic medication in tandem with social and psychological help for an acute or first episode. For some, particularly where symptoms are recurrent or dangerous, medication may be necessary for the long haul. These are decisions to be made with a qualified prescriber and reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account side effects and physical health.

Psychosis articles and PDFs

The original psychosis PDF remains available through a readable companion page with urgent-help boundaries, current source links, and related psychotherapy material.

Psychosis can be frightening, confusing, isolating, or hard to explain. It can involve experiences such as hearing or seeing things that others do not, feeling very suspicious or unsafe, holding beliefs that others do not share, or finding that thoughts and speech become difficult to organise. These experiences are not a personal failure. They are a reason to seek careful, respectful support.

This page offers general mental health information about psychosis and schizophrenia. It is not a diagnosis, crisis service, or substitute for personal medical advice. If experiences are new, intense, persistent, or affecting daily life, it is important to speak with a GP, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychologist, community mental health team, or another qualified mental health professional.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent professional help if someone feels at risk of harming themselves or another person, is unable to care for basic needs, is very frightened or confused, is not sleeping for long periods, is rapidly deteriorating, or has recently given birth and is showing signs of possible postpartum psychosis. If there is immediate danger, call local emergency services. In Ireland, call 112 or 999.

What psychosis can involve

Psychosis is a broad term rather than one single diagnosis. It can happen in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, postpartum illness, substance-related states, medical or neurological conditions, trauma-related states, and severe stress. A careful assessment matters because treatment should fit the person, the context, the level of risk, and what may be causing or maintaining the experiences.

Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing, feeling, smelling, or tasting things others do not.
Delusions or strongly held beliefs that others find hard to understand.
Confused, racing, blocked, or disorganised thinking and speech.
Withdrawal, loss of motivation, emotional flattening, anxiety, depression, trauma reactions, or sleep disruption.
Distress in relationships, work, study, daily routines, identity, or a sense of trust in the world.

Treatment: medication, psychotherapy and support

Many guidelines recommend antipsychotic medication together with psychological and social interventions for first-episode or acute psychosis. Medication can often be needed for some time, and for some people for longer, especially when symptoms are severe, recurrent, dangerous, very distressing, or returning after previous episodes. Medication decisions should be made with a qualified prescriber, reviewed regularly, and balanced with side effects, physical health, preferences, and goals.

Psychotherapy can also be very effective, often in combination with medication and practical support. In some situations, and with careful assessment, shared decision-making, and regular monitoring, psychotherapy may be the main or stand-alone long-term treatment. This is most safely considered when the person is stable enough for outpatient work, risk is low, there is a clear care plan, and there is a willingness to review medication if symptoms, distress, sleep, or functioning worsen.

How psychotherapy can help

Therapy for psychosis is not about arguing a person out of their experience. It can help someone reduce distress, make sense of voices or unusual beliefs, notice triggers, strengthen sleep and daily structure, work with trauma or shame, improve communication, rebuild trust, plan for relapse prevention, and reconnect with values, relationships, study, work, or creativity.

Approaches discussed in guidelines include cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis and family intervention. Other therapeutic work may focus on communication, meaning, mentalisation, relationships, emotion regulation, self-understanding, recovery, and the person’s own language for what has happened. The approach should be collaborative, respectful, and paced.

Psychosis therapy in Dublin and online

Dr Jonathan Haverkampf offers psychotherapy and counselling in Dublin and online. If psychosis-related experiences, unusual beliefs, voices, medication questions, recovery after an episode, or relationship strain are part of what you are facing, you can read about psychotherapy and counselling, find help for mental health, or make an appointment.

Related information on this site

Outside expert sources

Page last reviewed: May 2026.

Medication-Related Research Context

The antipsychotics paper summary is included as research context only; medication decisions should be discussed with a qualified prescriber.