Interpreting Reality (03:02)

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This film follows three people living with schizophrenia. Cutting edge research and experimental therapies are providing answers related to the causes and course of schizophrenia.

Madness And Psychosis (05:04)

Dr. David Strange and Rachel Waddingham recall experiences with psychosis. The three key features of psychosis are hearing voices, paranoia, and hallucinations.

Coping With Psychosis (04:04)

David creates electronic music that reflects his experiences with psychosis. Rachel, who hears voices, creates images of her voices to try and understand them.

Diagnosis Of Psychosis (03:15)

Research suggests that those with psychosis produce too much dopamine. Dopamine focuses attention on potentially threatening stimuli. If there is too much dopamine, nonthreatening stimuli acquire importance which produces psychosis.

Anti-psychotics (02:58)

Anti-psychotic medications block the action of dopamine after it has been released, reducing the symptoms of psychosis. David takes a "cocktail of pills" to maintain mental health. The primary treatment for psychosis is anti-psychotic drugs.

Therapy For Psychosis (04:51)

Experience sampling, a form of electronic diary keeping, is a new treatment for psychosis that does not rely on anti-psychotics. Professor Richard Bentall and David meet for a session.

Talking Therapy (05:31)

Rachel recalls her experience with the psychiatric system and her road to recovery. Rachel uses avatar therapy to overcome her fear of the threatening voices she hears.

Jackie Dillion (04:58)

Dillion, a mental health consultant, developed a positive, helpful relationship with the voices she hears. Jackie recalls her experiences with psychosis and explains how it impacted her life.

Fear Response (03:10)

Professor Paul Fletcher compares the experience of psychosis to walking alone in the woods at night. Elevated levels of dopamine induce the feeling of fright without danger present.

Causes of Psychosis (09:48)

Genetics, urban living, social discrimination, and social defeat increase the risk of developing psychosis. Childhood abuse is linked to mental disorders later in life.

Overcoming Trauma (04:03)

Rachel confronts the "not yets" with Dr. Dirk Corstens to understand the underlying cause of the voices. Finding the cause of psychosis holds the prospect of recovery.

Credits: Why Did I Go Mad? (00:37)

Credits: Why Did I Go Mad?