What type of disorder is characterized by the presence of hallucinations or delusions?

The presence of hallucinations or delusions is a hallmark characteristic of psychotic disorders. These disorders fundamentally disrupt an individual's ability to differentiate between reality and their perceptions, leading to symptoms such as seeing or hearing things that others do not (hallucinations) or developing firmly held false beliefs that contradict reality (delusions).

Psychotic disorders include conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and brief psychotic disorder, all of which can prominently feature these symptoms. In contrast, other types of disorders mentioned do not primarily focus on psychosis. For instance, personality disorders revolve around pervasive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience, which do not typically manifest as hallucinations or delusions. Anxiety disorders are dominated by excessive fear or worry, while mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder center on emotional disturbances and mood regulation rather than psychotic features. Hence, psychotic disorders specifically encapsulate the core symptoms of hallucinations and delusions, making it the most accurate choice in this context.