Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizophrenia	Types of Schizophrenia
Psychotic Symptoms	Schizoaffective Disorder
Delusional Disorder	Schizophreniform Disorder
Shared Psychotic Disorder	Brief Psychotic Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is an illness in which there are both severe mood swings (mania and/or depression), and some of the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Most of the time mania or depression mix with psychotic symptoms, but there must be at least one two-week period in which there are only psychotic symptoms without any symptoms of mania or depression.

Schizoaffective disorder is a lifelong illness for most people. The exact course of the illness varies from person to person, but most people have a flare-up of symptoms periodically in times of stress. These periods of increased symptoms are called relapses. They may be severe enough to limit functioning and may make hospitalization necessary. After a relapse, there is usually a gradual return to the prior level of functioning. Between relapses, most people have mild, if any, symptoms.

Symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder:

During the depressed state the following symptoms may be present: poor appetite, weight loss, insomnia, agitation, general slowing down, loss of interest in usual activities, lack of energy or fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, guilt, inability to think or concentrate, or thoughts of death or suicide.

During the manic state the following symptoms may occur: increase in social, work or sexual activity, increased talking, rapid or racing thoughts, grandiosity, little need for sleep, agitation, inflated self-esteem, distractibility and self-destructive activities.

Psychotic symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, disorganized speech or thinking, grossly disorganized behavior, total immobility, or lack of facial expression, speech or motivation.

DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria:

A. An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is either a Major Depressive Episode, a Manic Episode, or a Mixed Episode concurrent with symptoms that meet Criterion A for Schizophrenia.

Note: The Major Depressive Episode must include Criterion A1: depressed mood.

B. During the same period of illness, there have been delusions or hallucinations for at least 2 weeks in the absence of prominent mood symptoms.

C. Symptoms that meet criteria for a mood episode are present for a substantial portion of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness.

D. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Specify type:
Bipolar Type: if the disturbance includes a Manic or a Mixed Episode (or a Manic or a Mixed Episode and Major Depressive Episodes)
Depressive Type: if the disturbance only includes Major Depressive Episodes

Treatment of Schizoaffective Disorder:

Treatment usually consists of therapy, medicine and skills training.

The medicines used to treat schizoaffective disorder include antipsychotic medicines, antidepressants, and/or mood stabilizers. Often several medicines are combined to get the best results.

Therapy is most helpful when the patient and therapist work together to learn about the illness, to establish and work on the patient's goals, and to manage everyday problems.

Skills training may focus on social skills, grooming and hygiene, managing money, grocery shopping, looking for a job, cooking, and so on.

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