Thomas* was just eight when he first showed signs of psychosis, according to his mother, Jane*. He started imagining that bad people were going to take him away, the TV upset him and he would have dramatic fits of laughter followed by uncontrollable crying that could go on for hours, she says.
The fact that Thomas had a moderate learning disability made it much more difficult to deal with this behaviour and he was always in trouble in school. The teachers said he was "bold" and Jane didn't understand what was going on.
After three months Jane went to her family doctor who referred her to a neurologist. However, during the wait of a couple of months for an appointment with the consultant, Thomas's condition deteriorated - he stopped sleeping properly and stopped talking. Jane brought her son to the A&E department of Crumlin Hospital after he had not slept for more than 30 hours. Neurological tests indicated that there was nothing wrong physiologically and that the cause was psychological. Thomas was put on medication and stayed in Crumlin for three months.
Thomas's first brush with psychosis lasted for over a year, but it did clear up. Since then he has had one mild episode but it lasted for only two weeks. Now aged 12 he has been going to St Raphael's Special School in Celbridge, Co Kildare for the past two years. He continues to take anti-psychotic drugs and has a monthly session with a psychologist. At school he is made feel good about what he can achieve, which, Jane says, is a treatment in itself.
Having a child with a learning disability was difficult enough without the added problems that psychosis brought and Jane says it put a huge strain on her relationship with Thomas's father. They split up two years ago. She advises anyone going through a similar experience to get help as soon as possible.
*Thomas and Jane are not their real names