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A psychosis is a mental disorder characterised by severe disturbances in cognition (illogical reasoning, delusions), perception (hallucinations) and reality testing (inability to distinguish fact from fantasy).
	Psychoses (schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorders, schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder and psychotic depression) are relatively rare, but highly disabling, forms of mental illness.
	The most common psychosis is schizophrenia, which has a lifetime prevalence of less than 2%.
	People with psychoses are now much less likely to be institutionalised. More of their psychiatric care is likely to be handled by their family doctor with the support of specialist mental health services.
General practitioners are well placed for early intervention (after detecting prodromal symptoms) and continuing care of people with psychoses (including support to family members and coordinating various aspects of care for people with psychoses).

On to section 9.2 . . .