Schizoaffective Disorder: Introduction and Symptoms

by Rethink

Schizoaffective disorder is a condition in which there are symptoms of mood (affect) disorders, like depression or mania, and symptoms of schizophrenia present at the same time, or within a few days of each other. Usually the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is given when the schizophrenic symptoms are more pronounced; if the mood disorder is more pronounced the condition is more often called depressive or manic psychosis. There are many different definitions of these conditions, and it can be difficult for the doctors to settle on a diagnosis.

About one in every two hundred people (1/2%) develops schizoaffective disorder at some time during his or her life. Some people believe that this low level of diagnosis does not represent the true level of the condition, and that many people are given a mis-diagnosis instead of a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. More recently, in another study, a quarter of all psychotic patients were eventually diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

Schizoaffective disorder usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, often between the ages of sixteen and thirty. More women than men tend to suffer from schizoaffective disorder.

What are the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder?

Schizoaffective disorder is an illness in which there are both severe mood extremes comprising mania and depression, and have some 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.

Mania

Signs and symptoms of manic include:

• increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• excessively "high", overly good, euphoric mood
• extreme irritability
• racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
• distractibility, can't concentrate well
• little sleep needed
• unrealistic beliefs in your own abilities and powers
• poor judgment
• spending sprees
• a lasting period of behaviour that is different from usual
• increased sexual drive
• abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
• provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behaviour
• denial that anything is wrong.

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day for one week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and increased productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognise the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.

Depression

Signs and symptoms of depression include:

• lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
• feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
• decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
• difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• restlessness or irritability
• sleeping too much, or can't sleep
• change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
• chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
• thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five of more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a periods of two weeks or longer.

Psychosis

Common psychotic symptoms are:

• hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there)
• delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person's usual cultural concepts)
• disorganized speech or thinking
• grossly disorganized behaviour
• total immobility or lack of facial expression, speech or motivation.

People with psychosis may show one or more of these symptoms.

About the Author

www.rethink.org
Rethink is the largest severe mental illness charity in the UK. We are dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by severe mental illness, whether they have a condition themselves, care for others who do, or are professionals or volunteers working in the mental health field.