1. Downloadable free from
The British Psychological Society’s summary of what we know about the psychology of psychosis, and how services need to change as a result
Downloadable free from

2. Key Messages
The problems we think of as ‘psychosis’ can be understood and treated in the same way as other psychological problems such as anxiety or shyness.
They are often a reaction to trauma or adversity of some kind which impacts on the way we experience and interpret the world.
Services should not insist
that people see themselves
as ill. Some prefer to think
of their problems as an
aspect of their personality
which sometimes gets them
Into trouble but which they
would not want to be without.

3. For many people, though not all, experiences such as hearing voices or feeling paranoid are short-lived.
Many people find that antipsychotic medication helps to make the experiences less frequent, intense or distressing. However, there is no evidence that it corrects an underlying biological abnormality.
It is a myth that people who have these experiences are likely to be violent.

4. No-one can tell for sure what has caused a particular person’s problems. The only way is to sit down with them and try and work it out. The opportunity to talk things through in this way is vital, but surprisingly rare.
Psychological therapy is very helpful for many people.
NICE recommends that it should be offered to everyone with a diagnosis of psychosis or schizophrenia.
However currently most people are unable to access it.
Services need to change radically. We also need to invest much more in prevention by attending to inequality and child maltreatment. Concentrating resources only on treating existing problems is like mopping the floor while the tap is still running.

5. “For all the facts, and crunching of evidence, and great argument, what I love most is that you have produced something which makes space for the voices of people who are suffering, and those who have thrived outside the psychiatric system.”
Dr Jay Watts
The report is free to download from
And free in paperback book form from