Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?

In recent years, mental health professionals have diffusely treated “early psychosis” (EP), an unspecified clinical condition characterized by the first manifestation of psychotic symptoms (especially hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech), including attenuated prodromal ones...

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Main Authors: Pietro Pellegrini, Emanuela Leuci, Clara Pellegrini, Simona Pupo, Lorenzo Pelizza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2025-03-01
Series:Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/128023759/Suggestions_on_early_psychosis_towards_a_new_psychopathology
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author Pietro Pellegrini
Emanuela Leuci
Clara Pellegrini
Simona Pupo
Lorenzo Pelizza
author_facet Pietro Pellegrini
Emanuela Leuci
Clara Pellegrini
Simona Pupo
Lorenzo Pelizza
author_sort Pietro Pellegrini
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, mental health professionals have diffusely treated “early psychosis” (EP), an unspecified clinical condition characterized by the first manifestation of psychotic symptoms (especially hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech), including attenuated prodromal ones. This term is currently used for provisional diagnosis, with detailed categorical definitions pending. The term EP immediately recalls its clinical antecedents and prodromal symptoms, leading us back to the early detection and identification of the “At-Risk Mental States” (ARMSs) of psychosis. Although helpful for early treatments and reducing the duration of untreated psychosis, the EP conceptualization remains unclear, especially in its psychopathological trajectories. Does the term EP refer to the onset of its first functioning decline or to the instance first psychological distress or simply to the first contact with mental healthcare services? There is a “nebula” in which a multiplicity of psychopathological conditions may exist, often undefined and unspecified, sinking their roots very early in a patient’s life. In this paper, we discuss some suggestions to better understand this clinical complexity. Moreover, based on common clinical experiences, some hypotheses on development and change in the current EP methodological approach and intervention will be advanced. Finally, a different definition of “normality” (also taking into account the modern digital revolution, the current instability of the early life phases, and the increasingly poor confidence in the future) is proposed as an element characterizing the new young generations and a potential, broader interpretation of the EP conceptualization.
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spelling doaj-art-12dab553f5ca42f295f2b8aadf35175a2025-08-20T01:56:49ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Mental Health & Well-Being2997-91962025-03-012110.20935/MHealthWellB7584Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?Pietro Pellegrini0Emanuela Leuci1Clara Pellegrini2Simona Pupo3Lorenzo Pelizza4Department of Mental Health, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 2, Parma 43100, Italy.Department of Mental Health, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 2, Parma 43100, Italy.Department of Mental Health, Azienda USL di Parma, Largo Palli 2, Parma 43100, Italy.Department of Medicine and Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma 43100, Italy.Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Viale Pepoli 5, Bologna 40106, Italy. In recent years, mental health professionals have diffusely treated “early psychosis” (EP), an unspecified clinical condition characterized by the first manifestation of psychotic symptoms (especially hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech), including attenuated prodromal ones. This term is currently used for provisional diagnosis, with detailed categorical definitions pending. The term EP immediately recalls its clinical antecedents and prodromal symptoms, leading us back to the early detection and identification of the “At-Risk Mental States” (ARMSs) of psychosis. Although helpful for early treatments and reducing the duration of untreated psychosis, the EP conceptualization remains unclear, especially in its psychopathological trajectories. Does the term EP refer to the onset of its first functioning decline or to the instance first psychological distress or simply to the first contact with mental healthcare services? There is a “nebula” in which a multiplicity of psychopathological conditions may exist, often undefined and unspecified, sinking their roots very early in a patient’s life. In this paper, we discuss some suggestions to better understand this clinical complexity. Moreover, based on common clinical experiences, some hypotheses on development and change in the current EP methodological approach and intervention will be advanced. Finally, a different definition of “normality” (also taking into account the modern digital revolution, the current instability of the early life phases, and the increasingly poor confidence in the future) is proposed as an element characterizing the new young generations and a potential, broader interpretation of the EP conceptualization.https://www.academia.edu/128023759/Suggestions_on_early_psychosis_towards_a_new_psychopathology
spellingShingle Pietro Pellegrini
Emanuela Leuci
Clara Pellegrini
Simona Pupo
Lorenzo Pelizza
Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?
Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
title Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?
title_full Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?
title_fullStr Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?
title_full_unstemmed Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?
title_short Suggestions on early psychosis: towards a new psychopathology?
title_sort suggestions on early psychosis towards a new psychopathology
url https://www.academia.edu/128023759/Suggestions_on_early_psychosis_towards_a_new_psychopathology
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AT simonapupo suggestionsonearlypsychosistowardsanewpsychopathology
AT lorenzopelizza suggestionsonearlypsychosistowardsanewpsychopathology