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Help after stepdad's psychotic episode

Help after stepdad's psychotic episode

Hi all - first time poster here. I am looking for some help / support because my family and I are at our wits end and dont know what to do. Basic history: - my stepfather was diagnosed with bipolar as a teenager after a traumatic childhood. I recall him having a few manic episodes when I was a teenager and in my 20s but for most of his life he has been treated fairly successfully with Lithium. About 6 years ago, he suffered from lithium toxicity and nearly died from renal failure. After that, he could no longer be treated with Lithium and had to stop working. Since then, things have gotten worse and worse every year. He had knee reconstruction surgery about 18 months ago and in the aftermath of that was hospitalised for about 4 weeks with delusions and hallucinations. Since then, he has never really recovered and has suffered from horrible anxiety, depression and delusions. Last week (after what we can now see has been building up for months) he had a full psychotic break which resulted in him going missing for 3 days and finally (after we found him about 100km away in a terrible state) he was hospitalised and placed under an involuntary treatment order. So the result is - he is now scheduled at a public hospital an hours drive for my mum and my family to visit and we have no idea what is going to happen. He improved for a little bit but has since gone back into the psychotic state. He normally lives with my mum and she cares for him and tries (unsuccessfully) to lead a normal life - but we are so confused about what the next posisble steps are from here. We hate seeing him like this and feel so helpless! I also hate seeing my mum have to go through this and cope with the uncertainty - and now having to drive an hour there and back every day to see him. Some general support / advice / kind words would be most welcome! Thanks in advance x

12 replies

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In response to: Help after stepdad's psychotic episode

Re: Help after stepdad's psychotic episode

Hi @ajw
It is very hard, when unwell my husband went walkabout a few times. From what I understand ECT series is 12 sessions and with my husband progress was not seen until around the 7-8 session mark. Some drugs take a good 6 weeks to take full effect.

When it comes to the time for treatment order to expire the treating team will consider the criteria to be able to hold a patient involuntary to consider if seeking an extension is warranted.

It is very scary when a patient comes home after being so unwell, please keep encouraging mum to seek support. One way you could do this is by offering to go to family education with her (such as ones Wellways offer). Mr D's pdoc gave MD carer leave to do this.

In response to: Help after stepdad's psychotic episode

Re: Help after stepdad's psychotic episode

Hi @ajw22
How are things going?
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