Starting the conversation

Asking about Psychosis

Young people are unlikely to spontaneously share their early experiences of psychosis. As such, it is important to be ready and willing to ask about these experiences.

Tips for Talking about Psychosis

Be curious and matter of fact. Clearly convey that you’re there to help. You don’t have to know a lot about psychosis, but they need to know that you are not afraid and won’t be overwhelmed to hear what they are experiencing.

“You might be surprised how common your experiences are. I’m here to figure this out with you. Do your best to explain what’s going on.”

Start with simple open-ended questions:

• “You seem distracted. Can you describe what’s going on in your mind right now?” (or “when you’re staring off,” “pacing like that,” etc.)
• “Can you help me understand what you’re experiencing?”

Be ready to follow up with additional questions such as:

• “Can you give me an example?”

If you notice odd behaviors that the patient denies, consider gathering more information from a parent or caregiver.

Move to more specific questions as it makes sense (see the PQ-16 below for examples). Include these as part of your overall interview without special emphasis, hesitation, or implication that they carry more significance than other experiences being queried (eg. insomnia, anxiety, headache).