For most people, psychotic-like experiences do not cause any problems. Researchers call them 'non-clinical' or 'sub-clinical psychotic experiences' – this means, they are not 'clinically significant' and people therefore do not need any treatment from mental health professionals. You may also hear the term 'at risk mental states' when health professionals refer to psychotic-like experiences.
However, if people with psychotic-like experiences find them difficult to cope with or are distressed by them, or if they interfere with their lives, psychological support may be helpful. People should talk to their GP if they feel uncomfortable about having these experiences, or if they are finding them problematic.
Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says GPs should refer children and young people to specialist mental health services – either child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or an early intervention for psychosis services. Over-18-year-olds should be referred to early intervention for psychosis services or other specialist mental health services – and they should be assessed by a consultant psychiatrist or a trained specialist. NICE recommends people who have distressing psychotic-like experiences be offered cognitive behaviour therapy and/or family therapy. Antipsychotic medication should not be prescribed for psychotic-like experiences, or to prevent or reduce the risk of psychosis. This guidance is contained in two NICE clinical guidelines – Psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people, published in January 2013 and Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults, published in February 2014.