Schizoaffective Disorder

About Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is a condition in which a person has symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions or hallucinations, together with a major mood episode, either depressive or manic. A defining feature is that psychotic symptoms also occur for a period of at least two weeks without prominent mood symptoms, which distinguishes it from a mood disorder with psychotic features. DSM-5 describes a bipolar type and a depressive type. The term was introduced in the 1930s by the American psychiatrist Jacob Kasanin, and the diagnosis has long been debated because it sits between schizophrenia and mood disorders and can be less stable over time than either. It is less common than schizophrenia. Treatment usually combines antipsychotic medication with treatment of the mood component, along with psychotherapy, family support, and rehabilitation services that help with work, housing and daily living.