If a functional psychotic experiences a delusion, what is the first step to take?

When a functional psychotic experiences a delusion, the first step is to acknowledge the feeling. This approach is essential because it helps to establish a rapport and shows empathy toward the person's emotional experience. By acknowledging the feelings associated with the delusion, the nurse or caregiver can validate the person's distress and create a supportive environment. This can lead to better communication and ultimately facilitate further interventions.

Acknowledging the individual's feelings helps in addressing their emotional needs without invalidating their experience, which might lead to defensiveness or withdrawal. Once the feelings are recognized, more therapeutic interventions can be implemented, such as providing reassurance or offering reality-based information to help them process their beliefs.

In this case, jumping directly to challenging their belief could increase anxiety and resistance rather than promoting understanding. Similarly, ignoring the delusion fails to engage the individual and may deepen their isolation or distress. Acknowledging their reality might be construed as affirming the delusion rather than addressing the underlying emotional concerns. Therefore, starting by acknowledging the feelings is a more compassionate and effective first step in managing the situation.