Today in Focus
Digital demons: the radical new treatment helping people with psychosis
Jan 27, 2025
Join Guardian journalist Jenny Kleeman as she delves into groundbreaking avatar therapy for psychosis. She shares how patients create digital avatars of their hallucinated voices, leading to transformative therapeutic interactions. Listen as she recounts a personal journey battling psychosis, highlighting emotional struggles and societal stigma. The discussion also touches on the innovative treatment's potential to alleviate distress and improve self-esteem, offering hope and insight into the future of mental health care.
31:06
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Quick takeaways
- Avatar therapy allows patients to confront hallucinations by creating digital avatars, which significantly improves their emotional distress and quality of life.
- The potential of avatar therapy extends to other mental health conditions, raising both hope for better treatment accessibility and ethical concerns regarding technology use.
Deep dives
The Impact of Psychosis
Psychosis significantly disrupts daily life, causing individuals to experience hallucinations and delusions that can lead to severe emotional distress. Many people, such as Claire, who has endured decades of these symptoms, find it difficult to establish relationships or maintain employment, which exacerbates feelings of isolation and despair. Despite attempting various treatments, many do not find relief from their voices, leading to a persistent cycle of suffering. The recognition that psychosis can stem from childhood trauma adds complexity to the condition, highlighting the interplay between mental health, experiences, and environment.
