Define psychotic disorder.

A psychotic disorder is primarily defined by the presence of symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, which represent a significant rupture from reality. Individuals with psychotic disorders may experience profound disturbances in thought processes, perception, emotional regulation, and behavior, leading to challenges in functioning. Delusions are strongly held false beliefs that are often resistant to contrary evidence, while hallucinations can manifest as auditory, visual, or other sensory experiences that are not rooted in external reality.

By understanding the characteristics of psychotic disorders, one can recognize that the other conditions mentioned involve different symptoms and diagnostic criteria. For instance, mood swings are a hallmark of mood disorders rather than psychotic disorders, excessive worry is indicative of anxiety disorders, and common depressive disorders feature persistent feelings of sadness rather than the hallucinations and delusions characteristic of psychotic disorders. Therefore, the identification of delusions and hallucinations makes the definition of psychotic disorder distinct and accurate.