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Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is one of the most confusing diagnostic categories in psychiatry. People suffering from schizoaffective disorder experience a wide array of symptoms and problems that may be more difficult to cope with than either of its parent diseases, schizophrenia or affective disorders.
Researchers have identified two subtypes of schizoaffective disorder: bipolar type and depressive type. Bipolar type is associated with the presence of manic episodes, periods of elation, euphoria, or extreme irritability, depressive episodes, periods of feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or indifference, an inability to concentrate or remember details, and thoughts of death or suicide attempts, and mixed episodes, involving both types of symptoms within a 24-hour period. The depressive type involves ONLY periods of depression.
Since schizoaffective disorder bears a close resemblance to both schizophrenia and affective disorders, people with the illness experience a combination of symptoms associated with both diseases. To be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a person must meet the criteria for both schizophrenia and affective disorder during the same episode of illness. During this episode of illness, the symptoms of delusions or hallucinations must be present for two weeks without prominent affective symptoms. These symptoms include:
Psychotic Symptoms
Affective Symptoms
- extreme mood swings from mania to depression
- hyperactivity
- thoughts of death or suicide
- decreased need for sleep
- acute psychosis
- loss of appetite
Like schizophrenia and affective disorders, schizoaffective disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitters.
Like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder usually begins in early adulthood. Although research on the disorder is scarce, women seem to suffer from the illness more often than men.
Schizoaffective disorder responds to treatment with antimanic medications, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.
UNM students may contact Counseling & Therapy Services at 277-4537 to make an appointment to see a clinician.
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