The nurse's role in managing psychosis

This article provides a nursing perspective on psychosis. It looks at how psychotic behaviour is often no more than an exaggerated version of normal behaviour and explains that many people can have a psychotic experience, albeit temporarily, in unusual or exceptional circumstances. This article looks at how nurses can help people to make some sense of the phenomenon and begin the process of integrating it into their life experience. The importance of building a therapeutic relationship and maintaining a consistent clinical approach is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the stress-vulnerability model as a means of understanding the experience while looking at potential triggers and the prevention of relapse.