Schizophrenia is characterized by:

Schizophrenia is primarily characterized by distortions of reality and disorganized thought. Individuals with schizophrenia may experience symptoms such as delusions, which are false beliefs that are not based in reality, and hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. These distortions significantly affect their ability to process information and respond to their environment coherently. Disorganized thinking may manifest in speech that is difficult to follow and a inability to maintain a logical flow in conversations. This disruption in reality and thought processes is a fundamental aspect of the disorder and helps differentiate schizophrenia from other mental health conditions.

The other options describe characteristics that do not align with the core symptoms of schizophrenia. For example, accurate perception of reality is the antithesis of what individuals with schizophrenia typically experience. Severe mood fluctuations suggest mood disorders, and social withdrawal due to shyness may indicate social anxiety rather than schizophrenia. Therefore, the defining features of schizophrenia are best captured by the presence of reality distortions and disorganized thinking.