Actually under the DSM-IV, two or more "characteristic symptoms", which include both the positive and negative symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, affective flattening, avolition, etc) must exist, the "disturbance" must last at least six months (with at least one continuous month of symptoms), AND this must significantly affect social or occupational functioning.

Psychotic symptoms, such as hearing voices or sounds, delusions, and sleep disorders can certainly also occur in mood disorders. The DSM-IV has a specific diagnosis of "psychotic major depression", and the ICD-10 offers several diagnoses of depression with psychotic symptoms. Of course, it should again be emphasized that, as has already been mentioned in the previous post, we are not able to provide an official diagnosis.

Also, as far as those "wonderful medications" go, they are greatly improved over the older drugs, but still carry MANY side effects. I've been on several antipsychs, and, while they work fairly well, I have quit them every time due to side effects and then reverted to another psychotic episode.