Schizoaffective Disorder: Symptoms, Effects, and Treatment

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition where a person has both schizophrenia and a mood disorder at the same time. Individuals with this condition may encounter symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions and hallucinations, alongside symptoms of a mood disorder, like depression or mania.

Schizoaffective disorder is frequently misdiagnosed initially as either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Treatment interventions are often borrowed from approaches used for these conditions due to the limited research on schizoaffective disorder.

Schizoaffective disorder alters a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior. If left untreated, it can greatly affect how well you can work, study, and interact with others, which can lead to feeling isolated.

Individuals with schizoaffective disorder often require assistance and support to carry out their daily activities. Treatment can effectively alleviate symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.

There are two types of schizoaffective disorder, and both include some symptoms of schizophrenia:

  • Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type: Bouts of mania (extreme highs) and deep depression (extreme lows). This disorder often also comes with surges in energy and periods of feeling little to no energy at all.
  • Schizoaffective Disorder Depressive Type: this form of schizoaffective disorder is characterized by major depressive episodes.

Symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder

Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder will vary greatly from person to person and often can be severe. If you or someone you care about are having symptoms of schizoaffective disorder, you should seek medical help immediately.

The symptoms seen in people with schizoaffective disorder will overlap with typical symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Symptoms may shift from a manic or depressive mood over several days to psychotic symptoms such as hearing voices or hallucinations for days to a couple of weeks at a time.

Depending on the mood disorder that is presenting, people will experience different symptoms:

  • Delusions: having fixed, often false beliefs that the person refuses to see differently despite evidence that what they believe is not valid.
  • Difficulty with speech and communication: the person switches topics quickly or talks nonsensically.
  • Struggling to function in school, work, or social settings.
  • Racing thoughts that you cannot control and manic behaviors.
  • Hallucinations: seeing things that are not there or hearing voices.
  • Not maintaining hygiene or self-care, poor appearance.

Are There Known Risk Factors?

Researchers do not know exactly what causes schizoaffective disorder. What puts a person at higher risk for schizoaffective disorder is a combination of genetics, environment, brain chemistry, and drug use.

Some studies have led scientists to believe that having some of the above-listed factors can increase your risk of developing schizoaffective disorder.

  • Genetics. Having a close blood relative with schizoaffective disorder may put you at higher risk for developing the condition.
  • Brain chemistry and structure. Certain chemical imbalances in the brain may increase the risk of developing mental health conditions such as schizoaffective disorder.
  • Environment. Some scientists have found early evidence that certain viral infections or being exposed to stressful situations may make you more likely to develop schizoaffective disorder.
  • Drug use. Certain mind-altering drugs, such as LSD, have been tied to the development of schizoaffective disorder.

Diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is challenging due to its unique combination of symptoms, often being mistaken for either schizophrenia or a mood disorder. Despite challenges in understanding the root cause of schizoaffective disorder, there is hope for new treatments due to increasing knowledge and research efforts.

Diagnosing Schizoaffective Disorder

Your doctor or a mental health professional can diagnose schizoaffective disorder after carefully reviewing your mental and physical health history. They may also conduct a thorough physical exam and offer diagnostic tests to ensure an accurate diagnosis and rule out other health conditions.

A mental health professional will conduct a thorough mental health evaluation. They will carefully assess the individual’s mental state by observing their behavior and appearance.

Furthermore, the healthcare professional will participate in open conversations about the individual’s thoughts, emotions, delusions, hallucinations, substance use, and any concerns about self-harm. They will also explore the person’s family and personal history, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive approach.

Schizoaffective disorder will be diagnosed if the patient displays all of the following:

  1. Two or more weeks of ongoing psychotic symptoms
  2. Long periods of uninterrupted mental illness in the form of long-term mood or depressive disorders
  3. An episode of severe depression or mania while experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia.
  4. The use of drugs or medications is not responsible for the above behaviors.

Treatment for Schizoaffective Disorder

Individuals with schizoaffective disorder typically achieve the best results with a combination of medication, talk therapy (also known as psychotherapy), and life skills training.

The type and severity of symptoms, as well as whether the disorder is of the depressive or bipolar type, will determine the specific course of treatment. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Long-term treatment is essential for effectively managing symptoms.

Medications

Doctors will often use medications to help stabilize psychotic symptoms and treat depression.

  • Antipsychotics. There is only one medication approved by the FDA to treat schizoaffective disorder specifically. Paliperidone (Invega) extended-release has been effective in treating some patients with schizoaffective disorder, but often, doctors may also prescribe other antipsychotics such as quetiapine, risperidone, or ziprasidone.
  • Antidepressants. In patients with depressive-type schizoaffective disorder, medications such as sertraline or fluoxetine may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of depression.
  • Mood stabilizers. For patients with bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder, doctors can prescribe medications such as lithium or divalproex to help manage manic mood swings.

Talk Therapy

The use of medications combined with talk therapy or psychotherapy can help many individuals living with schizoaffective disorder live a more stable, productive life.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) equips patients with coping skills by helping them understand how their thoughts and beliefs influence their actions and emotions. Through CBT, patients can learn to manage stress, differentiate between realistic and unrealistic thoughts, and identify worsening symptoms to know when to seek further assistance.
  • Family or Group Therapy. Discussing real-life issues with others can greatly enhance the effectiveness of schizoaffective disorder treatment. Engaging in supportive group settings can alleviate social isolation, offer a reality check during psychotic episodes, and promote proper medication use. Moreover, these groups empower individuals with schizoaffective disorder to enhance their social interactions. This approach fosters hope and a sense of community, contributing to overall well-being and recovery.

Skills Training

Work and social skills, grooming and self-care, and day-to-day activities like money and home management are the main focus of skills training.

Hospitalization

In times of crisis or severe symptoms, individuals with schizoaffective disorder may need hospitalization to ensure their safety and receive proper self-care.

Get Connected to Treatment Today

If you or a loved one are struggling with symptoms of schizoaffective disorder, New Jersey Behavioral Health is prepared to help. Seeking treatment for schizoaffective disorder as soon as symptoms appear will help you or your loved one live a more functional and healthy life. Our providers are ready to design a treatment plan to fit your needs today.

References:

  1. Yale Medicine: Schizoaffective Disorder
  2. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Schizoaffective Disorder
  3. Mayo Clinic: Schizoaffective Disorder

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