Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that combines symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder. It's a complex and often misunderstood disorder that falls within the spectrum of psychotic disorders. People with schizoaffective disorder experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, mood disturbances, and problems with thought processes. These symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.

Key features of schizoaffective disorder include:

1. Psychotic Symptoms: Individuals with schizoaffective disorder experience hallucinations (false sensory perceptions, like hearing voices), delusions (false beliefs that are resistant to reason), disorganized thinking, and other symptoms commonly associated with schizophrenia.

2. Mood Symptoms: Mood disturbances are another hallmark of schizoaffective disorder. These can include symptoms of depression, such as low energy, sadness, and feelings of worthlessness, or symptoms of mania, like elevated mood, excessive energy, and impulsivity.

3. Subtypes: Schizoaffective disorder is categorized into two main subtypes: bipolar type and depressive type. In the bipolar type, individuals experience both manic and depressive episodes along with psychotic symptoms. In the depressive type, the mood disturbances are primarily depressive in nature.

4. Episodic Nature: Similar to schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder often occurs in episodes. These episodes can be acute and intense, followed by periods of relative stability.

5. Diagnosis: Diagnosing schizoaffective disorder can be challenging because its symptoms can overlap with those of other mental health conditions. To receive a diagnosis, symptoms must be present for a significant portion of time and not solely due to substance use or a medical condition.

6. Treatment: Treatment typically involves a combination of antipsychotic medications to manage psychotic symptoms and mood stabilizers or antidepressants to address mood disturbances. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive therapy, can also be beneficial in helping individuals cope with their symptoms and develop effective strategies for managing their condition.

7. Prognosis: The prognosis for schizoaffective disorder varies. Some individuals can experience significant functional impairment, while others are able to maintain a relatively higher level of functioning. It's important for individuals with this disorder to have a strong support system and access to ongoing treatment and therapy.

8. Causes: The exact causes of schizoaffective disorder are not fully understood, but it is believed to be a result of a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors. There may be a genetic predisposition, as the disorder tends to run in families.

It's worth noting that schizoaffective disorder is relatively rare compared to other mental health conditions. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms that might be indicative of schizoaffective disorder, it's important to seek professional help from a mental health provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

[BipolarCorner]

Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type is basically schizophrenia and Bipolar got together and made a baby and here I came

[TheTurtleRage]

I have Schizoaffective Disorder and have periods with little to no symptoms. I disagree with the notion that people with this disorder are always unwell.

[Bakedeggplant-yh]

How does one know if they have had psychosis for over two weeks? If a person is in psychosis is it possible for them to be aware of it? For example, feelings of persecution, grandiose thoughts feeling like you effect the environment, feeling you effect your environment, are these psychotic features? you realize your reality is not real, is it psychosis because you were aware of your psychosis and delusions?

[chanceasteria]

By "mood attacks" do you mean depressive or manic episodes?

[A_Ducky]

How do you tell these 2 vs. Manic Depressive? Would they act like one or the other of these in the video (chronic vs. intermittent)? How would the treatment differ? Sorry for my English..

[mohammedalazri]

Thank you for your videos, it makes my life easy

[nickim]

My niece has schizoaffective disorder with depressive symptoms, but she's not on an antipsychotic, can anyone explain why?

[adamkline]

There are times when I start to have problems but I am okay. I am on Depakote 500mg ER twice a day at night and Invega Sustenna 234mg shot. I have Schizoaffective from mood disturbances and Schizophrenia. The medicine is starting to ware off with the Depakote but I will surely get it fixed again.

[CM-sjpb]

Entering(submersion 3 times with a certain prayer and crossing yourself) in water springs of orthodox saints (which are near or in monasteries)give very much power and sureness to people with depression, panic attacks, schizofrenia and other soul illnesses untill they reach the eucharisty that heals all soul illnesses. There are some springs of mother of God Maria that also heal all soul illnesses.