What are psychotic features in mental disorders?

Psychotic features in mental disorders refer specifically to symptoms that indicate a break from reality. This includes experiences such as delusions, which are strongly held false beliefs, and hallucinations, which involve perceiving things that are not present, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. These symptoms are characteristic of more severe psychological disturbances, where an individual's perception of reality is significantly altered.

Understanding psychotic features is crucial because they can occur in various mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and severe mood disorders with psychotic features, such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Recognizing these symptoms helps in identifying the need for urgent intervention and appropriate treatment options.

The other answer choices describe different aspects of mental health but do not accurately capture what is meant by psychotic features. Physical symptoms indicative of high stress, signs of depression related to reality, and minor mood shifts do not involve the fundamental disconnection from reality that characterizes psychosis. Therefore, the focus on delusions and hallucinations accurately defines the nature of psychotic features.