Psychotic symptoms in schizoaffective disorder can include hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking. Someone may hear voices, interpret neutral events as personally directed messages or struggle to express a coherent train of thought. These experiences can…Continue Reading
A mood episode is a sustained period of clinically significant changes in emotion, energy and associated functioning. In schizoaffective disorder, this may involve a major depressive episode or a manic episode. Depression can include persistent…Continue Reading
The bipolar type of schizoaffective disorder includes manic episodes within an illness that also meets the relevant psychosis criteria. Depressive episodes may occur, but a history of mania is the defining mood feature. During mania…Continue Reading
The depressive type of schizoaffective disorder involves major depressive episodes alongside the required pattern of psychotic symptoms, without a history of mania. Depression may affect mood, interest, appetite, sleep, self-worth and the ability to think…Continue Reading
Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder share psychotic symptoms, so the distinction largely concerns the role and timing of major mood episodes. People with schizophrenia can experience depression or mood changes without meeting criteria for schizoaffective disorder.…Continue Reading