Schizoaffective disorder
Mood disorder - schizoaffective disorder; Psychosis - schizoaffective disorderSchizoaffective disorder is a mental condition that causes both a loss of contact with reality (psychosis) and mood problems (depression or mania).
Psychosis
Psychosis occurs when a person loses contact with reality. The person may: Have false beliefs about what is taking place, or who one is (delusions)S...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleDepression
Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...
Causes
The exact cause of schizoaffective disorder is unknown. Changes in genes and chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) may play a role.
Schizoaffective disorder is thought to be less common than schizophrenia and mood disorders. Women may have the condition more often than men. Schizoaffective disorder is rare in children.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it hard to tell the difference between what is real and not real. It also makes it hard to think clearl...
Symptoms
Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder are different in each person. Often, people with schizoaffective disorder seek treatment for problems with mood, daily function, or abnormal thoughts.
Psychosis and mood problems may occur at the same time or by themselves. The disorder may involve cycles of severe symptoms followed by improvement.
The symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can include:
- Changes in appetite and energy
- Disorganized speech that is not logical
- False beliefs (delusions), such as thinking someone is trying to harm you (paranoia) or thinking that special messages are hidden in common places (delusions of reference)
- Lack of concern with hygiene or grooming
- Mood that is either too good, or depressed or irritable
- Problems sleeping
- Problems with concentration
- Sadness or hopelessness
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
Hallucinations
Hallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Social isolation
- Speaking so quickly that others cannot interrupt you
Exams and Tests
There are no medical tests to diagnose schizoaffective disorder. Your health care provider will do a mental health assessment to find out about the person's behavior and symptoms. A psychiatrist may be consulted to confirm the diagnosis.
To be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, you must have psychotic symptoms and a mood disorder. In addition, you must have psychotic symptoms during a period of normal mood for at least 2 weeks.
The combination of psychotic and mood symptoms in schizoaffective disorder can be seen in other illnesses, such as bipolar disorder. Extreme disturbance in mood is an important part of schizoaffective disorder.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition in which a person has wide or extreme swings in their mood. Periods of feeling sad and depressed may alternat...
Before diagnosing schizoaffective disorder, your provider will check for medical and medicine-related conditions. Other mental disorders that cause psychotic or mood symptoms must also be ruled out. For example, psychotic or mood disorder symptoms can occur in people who:
- Use cocaine, amphetamines, or phencyclidine (PCP)
Cocaine
Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in water. It is available as a powder or...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAmphetamines
Amphetamines are drugs. They can be legal or illegal. They are legal when they are prescribed by a health care provider and used to treat health pr...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticlePhencyclidine
Phencyclidine (PCP) is an illegal street drug that usually comes as a white powder, which can be dissolved in alcohol or water. It can be bought as ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Have seizure disorders
Seizure disorders
A seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...
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Treatment
Treatment can vary. In general, your provider will prescribe medicines to improve your mood and treat psychosis:
- Antipsychotic medicines are used to treat psychotic symptoms.
- Antidepressant medicines, or mood stabilizers, may be prescribed to improve mood.
Talk therapy can help with creating plans, solving problems, and maintaining relationships. Group therapy can help with social isolation.
Support and work training may be helpful for work skills, relationships, money management, and living situations.
Outlook (Prognosis)
People with schizoaffective disorder have a greater chance of going back to their previous level of function than do people with most other psychotic disorders. But long-term treatment is often needed, and results vary from person to person.
Possible Complications
Complications are similar to those for schizophrenia and major mood disorders. These include:
- Substance misuse
- Problems following medical treatment and therapy
- Problems due to manic behavior (for example, spending sprees, overly sexual behavior)
- Suicidal behavior
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following:
- Depression with feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Inability to care for basic personal needs
- Increase in energy and involvement in risky behavior that is sudden and not normal for you (for instance, going days without sleeping and feeling no need for sleep)
- Strange or unusual thoughts or perceptions
- Symptoms that get worse or do not improve with treatment
- Thoughts of suicide or of harming others
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also call 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK). The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support 24/7, anytime day or night.
You can also call 911 or the local emergency number or go to the hospital emergency room. DO NOT delay.
If someone you know has attempted suicide, call 911 or the local emergency number right away. DO NOT leave the person alone, even after you have called for help.
References
American Psychiatric Association website. Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.
Lim C, Paudel S, Holt D, Freudenreich O. Psychosis and schizophrenia. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 27.
Lyness JM, Lee HB. Psychiatric disorders in medical practice. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 362.
Schizoaffective disorder - illustration
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychotic illness with both schizophrenic and affective (mood) symptoms. While symptoms vary greatly, they may include depression, poor temper control, racing thoughts (affective), and delusions and hallucinations (schizophrenic).
Schizoaffective disorder
illustration
Schizoaffective disorder - illustration
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychotic illness with both schizophrenic and affective (mood) symptoms. While symptoms vary greatly, they may include depression, poor temper control, racing thoughts (affective), and delusions and hallucinations (schizophrenic).
Schizoaffective disorder
illustration
Review Date: 5/4/2024
Reviewed By: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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