Merck Manual

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Schizoaffective Disorder

By

Carol Tamminga

, MD, UT Southwestern Medical Dallas

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Psychosis refers to symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, and bizarre and inappropriate motor behavior (including catatonia) that indicate loss of contact with reality. Affect refers to people's emotions and mood.

Doctors consider schizoaffective disorder when people have both psychosis and mood symptoms (such as depression or mania). The mood symptoms should be present for more than half of the total duration of illness and occur with two or more of the following symptoms of schizophrenia:

  • Delusions

  • Hallucinations

  • Disorganized speech

  • Grossly disorganized behavior

  • Negative symptoms (showing little or no emotion, decreased speech, inability to feel pleasure, lack of interest in relationships with other people)

Treatment of Schizoaffective Disorder

  • Often a combination of drugs, psychotherapy, and community support

Because schizoaffective disorder often leads to long-term disability, people often require comprehensive treatment, including antipsychotic drugs Antipsychotic Drugs Psychosis refers to symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking and speech, and bizarre and inappropriate motor behavior that indicate loss of contact with reality. A number... read more , psychotherapy, and community support.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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