- Schizoaffective Disorder is a disturbance in which a mood episode and the active phase symptoms of schizophrenia occur together and were preceded or are followed by at least two weeks of delusions or hallucinations without prominent mood symptoms. The mood episode may be depressive, manic, or mixed. The duration of the depressive episode must last at least two weeks; however the manic or mixed episode must be of at least one week in duration.
- The symptoms of this disorder may occur in a variety of patterns. The following is an example: an individual may have pronounced auditory hallucinations and persecutory delusions for two months before the onset of a prominent major depressive episode. The psychotic symptoms and the full major depressive episode are then present for three months. Then, the individual recovers completely from the depressive episode, but the psychotic symptoms persist for another month.
- Individuals with this disorder may exhibit poor occupational or scholastic functioning, a restricted range of social contact, difficulties with activities of daily living, and an increased risk of suicide.
Criteria for Schizoaffective Disorder:
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an uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is either a major depressive episode, a manic episode, or a mixed episode concurrent with symptoms that meet the criteria for Schizophrenia during the same period, there have been delusions and/or hallucinations for at least two weeks in the absence or prominent mood symptoms symptoms that meet the criteria for a mood episode are present for a substantial portion of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness the disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition - The symptoms of this disorder may occur in a variety of patterns. The following is an example: an individual may have pronounced auditory hallucinations and persecutory delusions for two months before the onset of a prominent major depressive episode. The psychotic symptoms and the full major depressive episode are then present for three months. Then, the individual recovers completely from the depressive episode, but the psychotic symptoms persist for another month.