About Mental Illness >> Schizoaffective Disorder
Questions & Answers
Serious mental illness creates uncertainty and confusion, in both the person with the disease and the people around them. Here, we've collected some of the most common questions about schizoaffective disorder, as well as questions about treatment, management and reintegration.
Of course, every situation is different and no single list of questions can provide all the answers needed. So be sure to talk to physicians, caregivers, therapists and other professionals.
What is schizoaffective disorder?
What are the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder?
What causes schizoaffective disorder?
Is there a cure?
How is schizoaffective disorder treated?
Is a complete recovery possible?
Where can someone turn for help?
What is schizoaffective disorder?
Schizoaffective disorder is a confusing, and often frightening mental illness. For the person suffering from the disease, as well as those close to them, the experience of schizoaffective disorder can be a chronic roller-coaster ride of symptoms and problems.
Although a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is quite rare - just 5% of serious mental illnes diagnosis -- some researchers believe that the disorder is more widespread and that many people are given a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder when schizoaffective disorder would be the most accurate diagnosis. All of which make schizoaffective disorder one of the most confusing and controversial diagnostic categories in psychiatry.
Like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the onset of schizoaffective disorder usually takes place in early adulthood. Women seem to suffer from the illness more often than men, but research on the disorder is scarce.
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What are the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder?
Schizoaffective disorder bears a close resemblance to both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. People with the illness experience a combination of symptoms associated with both diseases.
With schizoaffective disorder, the symptoms of bipolar disorder, like either depression or mania, and symptoms of schizophrenia are experienced at the same time, or within a few days of each other. Given this overlapping or rapid cycling of symptoms, it's easy to see why schizoaffective disorder is one of the most disorienting and disturbing mental illness.
Doctors and researchers have clearly identified two types of schizoaffective disorder: bipolar type and depressive type, each with different sets of symptoms.
In bipolar type, there is a clear presence of manic or mixed symptoms. As with bipolar disorder, these episodes are marked by a sudden elation and euphoria, or extreme irritability that can cause serious impairment.
In depressive major depressive episodes are evident. These episodes are often characterized by deep and profound feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or indifference, as well as a marked inability to concentrate or remember details. Thoughts of death are common and suicide attempts are a very real danger.
In the end, there are many different definitions of these conditions, and it can be difficult for the doctors to settle on a diagnosis.
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What causes schizoaffective disorder?
The causes appear to parallel the causes of the root diseases, schizophrenia and affective disorders, like bipolar disorder.
Research indicates that schizoaffective disorder is probably caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitters, with genetic vulnerability playing a key role as well.
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Is there a cure?
There is no cure for schizoaffective disorder. With the causes rooted in a complex combination of genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors, an outright cure is unlikely for the immediate future.
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How is schizoaffective disorder treated?
The treatment of schizoaffective disorder has advanced dramatically in recent years. Using a combination of medication - SGA's sometimes with older mood stabilizers- and with the intervention of concerned and informed caregivers and family members, people with schizoaffective disorder are reaching higher levels of reintegration than ever before.
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Is a complete recovery possible?
Schizoaffective disorder is a disease that will likely affect a person for the rest of their life. But there are more and more people who, through skillful treatment, are finding satisfying work, living independently and forming meaningful relationships. Helping people and their families achieve this level of reintegration is the mission of the Center of Reintegration, and Reintegration.com.
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Where can someone turn for help?
There are many organizations and other information resources that are available to help people with serious mental illness, their families and concerned caregivers. They include both local organizations and national advocacy groups. Many states have created programs specifically to help people reintegrate.
Schizoaffective Disorder