How to Identify The Signs of Psychosis in Teens

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Spotting The Signs And Indicators of Teenage Psychosis

Have you noticed that something feels off about your teen lately, something that goes beyond general moodiness and apathy? Adolescents exhibit a range of symptoms that may be normal, but parents should be aware when those symptoms cross the line into psychosis or psychotic behaviors.

Psychosis in teens is scary and real, however you can spot the warning signs of psychosis in teens early.

Some of the early indicators of a psychotic disorder in teens include withdrawal and isolation, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and general disordered thinking. They might be less concerned with their appearance, neglecting self-care and hygiene. Other symptoms include loss of touch with reality, along with visual or auditory hallucinations.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center knows how frightening it can be to have a child who is struggling with something so heavy. We take all mental illnesses seriously and work with you and your teen to return them to their normal.

Keep reading to learn more about how to spot the early warning signs of psychosis in teens, and remember, we are only a confidential call away for immediate support as needed.

What are the Early Warning Signs of Psychotic Disorder?

Psychosis in teens is a serious issue that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. Without the proper treatment plan and intervention, untreated psychosis can be quite dangerous. Early warning signs, sometimes referred to as prodromal symptoms, are the first indication that something is wrong.

What should you know about psychotic symptoms and when to seek the help of a mental health professional?

Is Your Teen Less Social Than Usual?

One of the first signs that your teen is experiencing psychosis is withdrawal and isolation. If they are typically a social butterfly, you might notice that they spend less time with peers. At home, they may typically spend most of their time in their room. They always have an excuse not to interact.

Often, this is coupled with paranoia. A psychotic episode might tell them that others are out to get them or that the people in their life can’t be trusted. Suspicious behavior should always be taken seriously.

Do Changes in Eating and Sleeping Indicate Psychotic Symptoms?

Sometimes, mental illness like bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder takes the form of changes in habitual behavior. Someone with these mental health disorders is likely to sleep less when going through a psychotic episode.

Teens often stay up late, but pay attention when it seems that they aren’t sleeping at all. They may seem chronically tired, especially because their bodies are having less efficient sleep when they do finally fall asleep.

Other signs of psychosis include disturbed eating patterns, where the person may refuse most foods.

Does Your Teen Have Disordered Thinking or Apparent Mental Health Issues?

Of course, the most prominent signs of psychosis are often disordered thinking patterns. Whether your teen is hearing voices or experiencing other symptoms of psychosis, they may have a very difficult time thinking clearly and reasoning. Some of the early symptoms include:

• Rapid or pressured speech
• Switching from one topic to another with no segue, often in mid-sentence
• Frequently losing train of thought in a conversation

Early psychosis can also mean the prevalence of some of the major symptoms of psychosis in teens. If they admit to hearing things, seeing things that aren’t there, or having delusions about what is going on around them, seek help. They might also have ideas that they have superpowers or that everyone is out to get them.

Any of these symptoms is a clear indicator that a person experiencing psychosis needs help right away.

Is Your Child Less Concerned with Appearance and Hygiene?

Teens often care deeply about what their peers think of them. When someone develops psychosis, the thoughts and feelings often take a backseat to more pressing concerns going on internally. One of the signs of psychiatric disorders is a lack of attention to personal appearance.

This might mean that they dress sloppily, stop showering, and generally do not care how they look.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re experiencing psychosis on its own. It could also be a sign that they need early intervention for depression, bipolar disorders, or something else entirely. If parents notice this, along with other signs, they should seek help.

Other Symptoms of Psychosis in Adolescents and Risk Factors to Consider

While the above symptoms are often the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis, there are others that might pop up as prodromal symptoms of psychosis. Contrary to popular belief, auditory hallucinations aren’t the only sign that someone is suffering.

Alongside false beliefs and disordered thinking, here are some risk factors for developing psychotic symptoms:

• Loss of interest in activities that once brought them happiness
• Changes in motivation and energy, consistent with depression
• Unusual perceptions that may indicate seeing or hearing something not real
• Feeling as though the things that happen to them are unreal
• Changes in personality or a person’s thoughts
• Delusions of grandeur

If you notice these symptoms in your family members, regardless of their age, it’s essential to seek help for them. Psychosis is a medical condition that requires the right treatment when someone loses touch with reality.

What Do You Do If Your Teen Develops Psychosis?

Psychotic disorder can be challenging to treat, and it isn’t something that will typically resolve on its own at home. It requires intensive treatment from a mental health professional to keep your teen safe. When you notice these prodromal symptoms, you’ll want to seek early psychosis treatment.

Obtaining an Accurate Diagnosis for Early Treatment

The first thing that your teen needs is an accurate diagnosis. Psychosis can come about with several mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder, and even drug use. Knowing which issue is causing the psychosis determines the appropriate treatment.

This is where help tailored to teens comes into the picture. Mental health professionals who work with teenagers need to consider developmental stages and other symptoms before making a diagnosis.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center specializes in work with teens and can offer accurate diagnosis and treatment at all levels to help them heal.

Does Treatment Require Antipsychotic Medication?

Oftentimes, the first step to treating your teen for psychosis is to use FDA-approved medications to break the hold of the psychosis. There are several categories of antipsychotic medications that their doctor or psychiatrist can use to help them return to reality.

Oftentimes, teens with a psychotic disorder will need to be on these medications long-term to prevent future issues from arising.

Ongoing Support with Individual Therapy and Family Therapy

With medication on board, it’s time to address how your teen recognizes and copes with an episode. This is most often sorted out in individual therapy, where a mental health professional can help them determine what is real and what isn’t, as well as how to fend off prodromal symptoms and seek help early.

Family therapy is also important because it teaches those closest to your teen how to support them effectively. If you know how to respond to your teen next time psychosis occurs, you can make life easier on the entire family.

Find Treatment Programs for Teen Psychosis at Artemis Today

When you suspect that your teen is struggling with psychosis, it’s time to seek professional help for them. Artemis Adolescent Healing Center can come alongside your family with this difficult diagnosis, offering treatment when your teen needs it most.

We provide individualized treatment plans tailored to your child’s mental health and developmental needs. No two treatment plans look quite the same. Allow us to help you get to the bottom of any underlying causes of psychosis and offer treatment that works.

Reach out to our Admissions team confidentially today to learn more about our programs of support.

References

• Fett, A. J., Hanssen, E., Eemers, M., Peters, E., & Shergill, S. S. (2022). Social isolation and psychosis: an investigation of social interactions and paranoia in daily life. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience, 272(1), 119–127.
• Kim, J., Prasad, S., Roshan, N. S., Hasan, B. F., Gill, G., & Gunturu, S. (2024). Sleep disruptions and the pathway to psychosis: An in-depth case and literature review. Clinical case reports, 12(6), e9108.
• Stogios, N., Smith, E., Asgariroozbehani, R., Hamel, L., Gdanski, A., Selby, P., Sockalingam, S., Graff-Guerrero, A., Taylor, V. H., Agarwal, S. M., & Hahn, M. K. (2020). Exploring Patterns of Disturbed Eating in Psychosis: A Scoping Review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3883
• Morgan, C. J., Coleman, M. J., Ulgen, A., Boling, L., Cole, J. O., Johnson, F. V., Lerbinger, J., Bodkin, J. A., Holzman, P. S., & Levy, D. L. (2017). Thought Disorder in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Probands, Their Relatives, and Nonpsychiatric Controls. Schizophrenia bulletin, 43(3), 523–535.
• Ghassemi, E. Y., Thorseth, A. H., Le Roch, K., Heath, T., & White, S. (2023). Mapping the association between mental health and people’s perceived and actual ability to practice hygiene-related behaviours in humanitarian and pandemic crises: A scoping review. PloS one, 18(12), e0286494.
• Chokhawala K, Stevens L. Antipsychotic Medications. [Updated 2023 Feb 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: