Schizophrenia

Any of a group of disorders that are characterized by onset before age 45, deterioration from a previous level of functioning in areas such as work, social relations or self-care, and at least one of the following during a phase of the illness: bizarre delusions such as delusions of being controlled, thought broadcasting, thought insertion or thought withdrawal; somatic, grandiose, religious or nihilistic delusions; delusions with jealous or persecutory content accompanied by hallucinations of any type; auditory hallucinations; or incoherence associated with a blunted, flat or inappropriate affect, delusions or hallucinations, or catatonic or other grossly disorganized behaviour.