What defines 'psychosis' in the context of mental health?

Psychosis is characterized by a disconnection from reality, which typically involves symptoms such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not present) and delusions (having firm beliefs in things that are false or not based in reality). This definition is fundamental in understanding various mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia or severe mood disorders, where the individual may struggle to discern what is real from what is not.

While other options describe various states of mental health or experiences, they do not align with the clinical definition of psychosis. For instance, a connection to reality without distortions reflects a healthy mental state, while a state of extreme sadness pertains more to depressive disorders. Lucid dreams and fantasy experiences involve altered states of consciousness that may not necessarily indicate a detachment from reality in the same way that psychosis does. Thus, the defining feature of psychosis is this clear break from reality marked by hallucinatory and delusional experiences.