Schizoaffective Disorder

What is schizoaffective disorder?

People with schizoaffective disorder have both schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder symptoms. Bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder causes episodes of mania and depression. Depressive-type schizoaffective disorder causes major depressive episodes but no mania.

Untreated schizoaffective disorder makes it hard to manage studying, a job, relationships, and social situations. Some people with schizoaffective disorder might also require help and support with daily living.

What symptoms does schizoaffective disorder cause?

Schizoaffective disorder symptoms vary and are often unique to the affected person. Some of the more common symptoms include:

Delusions

Delusions are flawed but unshakeable beliefs that don’t change even when the person has proof that they’re wrong.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are visual or aural experiences where you may hear voices and/or see things that aren’t real.

Impaired communication

You might struggle to speak clearly or express yourself.

Depression

Depression makes you feel hopelessly sad, empty, and worthless. Nothing you do improves your mood, which persists for weeks and sometimes months.

Mania

During manic episodes, you feel full of energy, sleep little, and become overconfident. Out-of-character and risk-taking behaviors are common during a manic phase.

Personal care issues

You might struggle to manage personal care, including washing, dressing appropriately, and brushing your hair.

Some people with schizoaffective disorder exhibit bizarre or unusual behaviors that make no sense to others. Thoughts of suicide can also occur in someone with schizoaffective disorder.

Diagnosing schizoaffective disorder can be challenging because the symptoms resemble those of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Diagnostic criteria include a major mood episode (either depression or mania) and two-week periods (or longer) where patients experience psychotic symptoms without a major mood episode.

How is schizoaffective disorder treated?

Schizoaffective disorder treatment varies depending on whether you have the depressive or bipolar type and the severity of your symptoms. Best Option Behavioral Health Services providers find people with schizoaffective disorder typically respond well to a combination of medication, talk therapy, and life skills coaching.

Medications reduce psychotic symptoms, improve depression, and help to stabilize your mood. Talk therapy performs several functions, helping to normalize your thought patterns, understand your condition, and learn to manage schizoaffective disorder symptoms.

Family or group therapy is also effective for people with schizoaffective disorder because they can discuss their problems with others who understand what they go through. Supportive groups also reduce social isolation, ensure you take your medication properly, and give you an invaluable link to reality if you develop psychosis.

If you’ve got schizoaffective disorder symptoms, call Best Option Behavioral Health Services today or book an appointment online to receive expert diagnosis and treatment.