From the Research
Treatment for isolation psychosis should prioritize a combination of removing the person from isolation, providing psychiatric medication, and implementing psychosocial interventions, with a focus on reintegration into social environments and addressing underlying depression, as supported by the most recent study 1. The goal of treatment is to manage hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, while also addressing the social and environmental factors that contribute to the development of psychotic symptoms.
- Antipsychotic medications such as risperidone, olanzapine, or quetiapine may be prescribed to regulate dopamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain.
- Reintegration into social environments is crucial, as human contact helps ground the person in reality, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions can help patients identify distorted thought patterns and develop coping strategies.
- The study by 1 highlights the importance of addressing depression as a mediator in the relationships between positive symptoms and social isolation, and another study 2 emphasizes the need for communities that foster agency and embrace change to create opportunities for independence from mental health services.
- In severe cases, brief hospitalization may be necessary, but the study by 3 suggests that social isolation can exacerbate psychotic symptoms, and therefore, hospitalization should be approached with caution.
- Overall, a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses both neurochemical imbalances and environmental factors is essential for recovery from isolation psychosis, as supported by the most recent and highest quality studies 1, 2.