I have a job in which I must try to differentiate between persons who are actually psychotic and those who are faking psychosis, and it is often quite difficult. I would like to identify characteristics of language that have a high probability of accurate discrimination. I have included an example of language from (I believe) a genuinely psychotic individual.
He stated, "I’ve always been adjusted toward righteousness. My name is [Abraham Lincoln] so they know I’m a man of good qualities. They’ve always wanted me to be a leading assister." I asked how he has been getting along on the ward. He stated, "I don’t speak to the people in the dayroom, but whenever I get a chance to speak, I do. My house - my radiance and substance - my keeping it positive affects my neighbors." He mused, "There have been some expensive situations. They’re unexplainable, as far as the influence and the vibration of the system; the appreciation was hard for me to grasp. It was irresponsible behavior - the staff I was around on 102 - usually it’s the patients or people of lesser quality who make you feel uncomfortable. This time it was the staff being ceremonial around the medications. I don’t want to sound like a conjurer so I won’t try to explain it. It was expensive because I didn’t get a chance to appreciate things, so it cost me a few days of service."