Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders are disorders that deal with a difference in reality. Individuals dealing with psychotic disorders display delusions and hallucinations. Some examples of psychotic disorders are schizophrenia and delusional disorder. One of the key symptoms is hallucinations, which can be seeing things that aren't there, hearing voices, smelling odors, having a weird taste in your mouth or feeling like something is touching you, even though nothing is. For delusions, it is a strong belief in something, no matter what anybody else says. Roughly 1% of the population around the world has a psychotic disorder. They appear in late teenage years and affect both genders equally.

Schizophrenia is a disorder that affects the way the person feels, acts and thinks. Diagnosed people usually have problems with other people, both in society and at home. It usually leaves the victim feeling scared and withdrawn. It cannot be cured yet, but it can be maintained. With this disorder, the individual cannot tell the difference between reality and imagination. Occasionally, people with this disorder will lose touch with reality, resulting in a sudden change in personality or behavior, or, a psychotic episode. There are many different types of schizophrenia, but they mostly share symptoms and signs.

A person with delusional disorder will believe 100% in a delusion, even if facts are presented. Beliefs include poisoned food, being followed, other people being able to hear their thoughts, people plotting against them, people putting thoughts into their head, being immortal or supernatural, and others. There is an erotomaniac, a person who believes somebody famous or important is actually in love with them. Stalking is common. There is Grandiose, where somebody believes that they have greater power, knowledge, or identity. Persecutory is when somebody believes that another person is planning on harming them or somebody close to them. A somatic believes that they have a physical disorder or a medical issue. These disorders may sound common, but it becomes a delusional disorder when the person believes whole-heartedly in the matter, and refuses to believe logical or factual proof.

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