Research shows multiple paths forward through experiences clinically called psychosis
Exercise at the Park, James Creegan
A new study published in the journal Schizophrenia shares encouraging findings about people's journeys after experiencing what is often called psychosis. The research, which followed 534 people over three years, illuminates how many individuals find their way through these intense experiences to reconnect with what matters most in their lives.
The study followed people's journeys over three years, tracking various aspects of their wellbeing and life engagement:
Growth and healing over time
By 6 months, 76% of participants were experiencing fewer intense perceptions and thoughts.
The number of people who had reconnected with work, school, or relationships grew from 23% at 6 months to nearly 40% by 3 years
These findings suggest that with support and time, many people find ways to navigate their experiences and rebuild meaningful lives.
What supported people's health
The researchers found three main factors that seemed to help people find their way forward:
Getting support sooner after unusual experiences began
Having close, supportive family relationships
Engaging in regular physical activity
The value of early support
The study highlights how helpful it can be when people can access support soon after their experiences begin. Those who connected with support services earlier often had an easier time finding their way forward. This suggests the importance of communities being able to recognize when someone might be struggling and knowing how to connect them with understanding support.
Reconnecting with life
A key insight was that feeling better wasn't just about changes in perceptions or beliefs - it was about being able to reconnect with what matters to them. The research looked at both how people's experiences changed and how they were able to maintain relationships and engage in meaningful activities like work, school, or caring for their home.
Supporting each person's journey
The research suggests several ways that might help people navigate these experiences:
Making physical movement and exercise available as options for support
Including family members and strengthening family connections when helpful
Ensuring support is readily available when people first need it
Maintaining hope that people can find their way forward over time
About the research
This study was conducted in Korea as part of the Korea Early Psychosis Study (KEPS). It focused on people who had been having unusual experiences for less than 2 years when they first connected with support.
While these findings offer hope, it's important to remember that each person's journey is unique. What helps one person may not be right for another. Forcing people into family therapy, exercise programs, or early treatment is likely to be counterproductive - these approaches only tend to help when people freely choose them for themselves. The value of this research is in expanding our understanding of what might be helpful when offered as options, while respecting that each person needs to find their own path in their own time.
Reference: Li, L., Rami, F.Z., Lee, B.M., Kim, W.S., Kim, S.W., Lee, B.J., Yu, J.C., Lee, K.Y., Won, S.H., Lee, S.H., Kim, S.H., Kang, S.H., Kim, E., & Chung, Y.C. (2022). Three-year outcomes and predictors for full recovery in patients with early-stage psychosis. Schizophrenia, 87. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-022-00301-4