How do young adults experience and understand the process of developing a first episode of psychosis? A qualitative exploration

Abstract

Background: Psychosis is a condition which often starts early in life and leaves a significant mark on a young person’s life. It is usually regarded and discussed from a professional point of view. This study sheds light on the lived experiences of young adults who go through a process of developing their first episode of psychosis. Methods: Interviews were carried out with 10 young adults, aged 19–32 years, 3–12 months after contact with an early detection team for psychosis and were diagnosed as having had a first episode of psychosis. Through a reflexive team-based method, data were put through a preliminary analysis and analyzed line-by-line. Results: We developed three main themes: 1) “A stressful life situation”, which refers to the period before the psychotic experience. 2) “A peculiar feeling” to describe the psychotic experience, and 3) “Redefining the meaning of psychosis”, which points to how developing psychosis was understood in hindsight. Discussion: We discuss how early labeling and stigma may impact the young adults’ meaning-making processes. Moreover, we question the conventional psycho-educational approach and call for a more open and dialogical way to interact with young adults who experience and try to make sense of their first episode of psychosis.