The most common psychotic disorder is Schizophrenia. Psychotic symptoms can also be associated with Depression as well as particular psychoactive drugs.

Schizophrenia

The schizophrenic disorders are characterized in general by distorted thinking and perception, and inappropriate or blunted emotion. The symptoms of Schizophrenia include:

• Thought insertion or withdrawal (the perception that your thoughts are being controlled by an external source)
• Thought broadcasting (the perception that your thoughts can be heard by others)
• Delusions (the perception and belief of having greater control over a situation than in reality, or belief that you have an extraordinary power/ability)
• Hallucinations (can be visual or auditory), such as hearing voices commenting or discussing you in the third person
• A lack of true emotion, feeling flat or not caring about things that would typically evoke an emotional response.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you may be at risk of Schizophrenia, and could benefit from speaking with a counsellor, or other healthcare professional. It is important that you make an appointment with a healthcare professional as soon as possible to deal with these symptoms before they become more serious.

Information on Schizophrenic symptoms contained within this page has been taken from the ICD-10*.

* World Health Organisation. (2003). International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. [Electronic Version].