‘You tried to tell yourself I wasn’t real’: what happens when people with acute psychosis meet the voices in their heads?

The Experience of Acute Psychosis

Acute psychosis presents a disturbing reality where individuals perceive hallucinations and delusions that deeply affect their day-to-day functioning. One such case involved a young man named Joe, who underwent a traumatic experience during a cannabis trip, leading him to believe he was in hell and to perceive terrifying voices and figures. Despite attempting to mask his struggles with substances like alcohol, Joe felt the overwhelming presence of these voices, which exacerbated his feelings of isolation and despair. The phenomenon is relatively common, affecting approximately 1-3% of the population, typically manifesting as auditory hallucinations, including those that are often persecutory.

Challenges of Traditional Treatments

Traditional treatment methods for psychosis, primarily relying on antipsychotic medications, come with significant limitations and side effects. While many patients struggle with the impact of these medications, they might still find themselves facing ongoing hallucinations, as a quarter of users do not benefit from these treatments. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTP) has shown effectiveness when combined with medication, yet many treatments lack sufficient engagement with the actual content of the hallucinations. Thus, treatment avenues remain limited despite the pressing need for effective intervention strategies in this area.

Innovative Avatar Therapy Approach

Avatar therapy offers a groundbreaking approach to treating psychosis by allowing patients to engage directly with their auditory hallucinations through digital avatars. Developed by Professor Julian Leff, this therapy encourages participants to visualize and interact with manifestations of their voices, essentially treating them as external entities. Early trials showed promise, with many participants reporting significant improvements after just a few sessions. The therapy aims to empower individuals by fostering a sense of control over their experiences rather than suppressing them, a method that stands in contrast to traditional clinical practices.

Positive Outcomes and Future Directions

The results from the Avatar 2 trial revealed remarkable reductions in distress from voices, leading to optimistic views about avatar therapy's potential as a standard treatment. Participants like Claire experienced complete relief from the voices that had tormented them for decades, showcasing the therapy's rapid efficacy. Further research is being directed towards exploring avatar therapy's applicability beyond psychosis, potentially extending its impact to conditions such as eating disorders and anxiety. Moving forward, researchers aim to investigate administering the therapy through artificial intelligence, seeking to maximize the benefits while ensuring safety and effectiveness in wider therapeutic settings.

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‘You tried to tell yourself I wasn’t real’: what happens when people with acute psychosis meet the voices in their heads?

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Deep dives

The Experience of Acute Psychosis

Challenges of Traditional Treatments

Innovative Avatar Therapy Approach

Positive Outcomes and Future Directions

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