Schizoaffective disorder is an illness that combines the symptoms of schizophrenia and a mood disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is one of the most challenging disorders to diagnose because of the combination of schizophrenia and bipolar mood symptoms; symptoms which can present as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. According to the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, because of the difficulty diagnosing this illness there are no statistics on incidence rates. Moreover, “The proportion of schizoaffective disorder identified in persons undergoing treatment for psychiatric disorders has ranged from 2% to almost 30%, depending on the study cited. ” 1

There are two main types of schizoaffective disorder; bipolar and depressive. People with schizoaffective disorder may present psychotic-type symptoms such as paranoid delusions, hallucinations, distorted thinking and speaking, and mania. Schizoaffective disorder with depression includes bouts of major depression presenting in combination with psychotic symptoms. Women seem more prone to the disorder, which is generally diagnosed in early adulthood. Sometimes adolescents are diagnosed with this illness after an initial diagnosis of bipolar disorder has been incorrectly made; again, the symptoms of mania can imitate psychosis.

Misdiagnosis of this illness is common in both adolescents and adults because the illness is so complex. When symptoms of bipolar disorder, psychosis and depression are all present, it may be difficult for clinicians to sort them out. In terms of prognosis, despite the severity of symptoms, the effects of this illness are generally episodic in nature and, compared to the diagnosis of schizophrenia, the outcome is more favorable.

For more information on schizoaffective disorder or any other mental illness, contact us by phone, 604.873.0103 or email, info@mdabc.net

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1 “Schizoaffective Disorder” Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. www.minddisorders.com. 2007. October 31, 2008