Lesson 1: Clinical Disorders – Part C

Introduction

In the lesson content you will come across some terms in maroon color that are bolded. Look them up in the course Glossary.

This lesson will look at three types of disorders in depth; psychosis, delusional disorders, and schizophrenia.

When some people hear the word “psychosis,” they think of deranged individuals who are very much out of touch with reality. In truth, this view is only partially correct. Although individuals are not usually deranged, they may display psychotic symptoms that result from being out of touch with reality.

People with delusional disorders have false beliefs about what is going on in their lives. Their beliefs, however, involve situations that could occur in real life.

Schizophrenia, one of the psychotic disorders, is a chronic (long-lasting) mental illness that is difficult to define and easily misunderstood. Although specific symptoms may vary widely, people with schizophrenia have difficulty recognizing reality, thinking logically, and behaving normally in social situations.