Daughter Diagnoised Psychotic

Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality, usually including false beliefs about what is taking place or who one is (delusions) and seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations).It can come and go throughout her life depending on how well her meds are working and how her bipolar cycles.At 15, her hormones may be affecting it too IMO.

I agree, I've heard psychotic means the person is out of touch w/ reality. I heard prolixin and klonipin are meds for that from a friend w/ that diagnosis.

I belong to the yahoo group Parents_Schizophrenia which supports parents as they deal with their children's psychotic disorders. So sorry to hear that you are going through this. I've found many great hints and support through this group. For example, some have found that ibuprofen can ease hallucinations and many have found that a gluten-free diet helps with the psychosis. Some of the parents there suggest getting an evaluation from a good DAN! doctor who is trained in therapies for autism. Though this isn't autism, they do tests for physical issues that can cause psychological illnesses and often find things that are simple to fix and can allow a patient to cut down or eliminate their scary meds. This is tough news to hear. I'm just so sorry and hope that you find the help you need to get through this.

Not to make light of the situation, but how many 15 year olds are in touch with reality? :D I have a 20 yo DD bipolar with borderline, and psychotic states can be hormonal as PP said, meds can induce it (particularly if anti-depressants aren't balanced with something to keep them from going manic), and it can be stress-induced as well. They should re-evaluate her meds, maybe a higher dose, a different type, etc. It's possible for the psychotic episode to be a "one time deal" (just like manic episodes, actually!), or they can come and go. It's hard to say. They might want to hospitalize her until the proper dosage/meds are found and she stabilizes. I wouldn't necessarily worry that you've been given some new diagnosis that changes everything. Manic episodes CAN lead to psychosis. It's scary, I know. But try not to think of it as some huge new diagnosis. More like she's now experiencing a new (and not altogether unexpected) symptom of the same disease. What will the future hold? There is NO telling. She is no better or worse off than yesterday, bipolar can be a challenge enough without psychosis. But lots of people go on to function fully and have very successful lives. And if you can get her under the right meds (and she STAYS on her meds), then there's no reason to expect her to have a normal life eventually. Teens and twenties will be rough. We are still "getting there." But she's living on her own...so...her story is still evolving.