Schizophrenic symptoms can include hallucinations and delusions, such as hearing voices that no one else can hear, smelling things that no one else can smell, and believing things that other people don't - or can't - believe. You might think that you are being followed, that people are trying to harm you, or even that you have special, magical powers. For more information about schizophrenia and its symptoms, click here

 

Collectively, hallucinations and delusions are known as psychosis. People with Bipolar Disorder can also experience psychosis, but in Bipolar Disorder, episodes of psychosis only ever occur during manic or depressive episodes, whereas in Schizoaffective Disorder, psychosis occurs both within mood episodes and outside of mood episodes. One of the main diagnostic criteria of Schizoaffective Disorder is that psychotic symptoms are present for at least two weeks in the absence of mood symptoms.

 

Bipolar symptoms include mania, hypomania and depression.  Mania has sometimes been describes as a state of intense happiness, although this is not quite what it's like to experience it. When you're manic, you have too much energy, racing thoughts, feel restless, capable of achieving anything - but you may also feel very irritable and get angry when people tell you to slow down. Depression is the symptom that most people can easily relate to, because most people know what it's like to feel sad - and depression is a very severe form of sadness. When people are depressed, though, they don't just feel sad. They lose interest in their lives, struggle to get pleasure from the things that they used to enjoy. Many depressed people also try to take their own lives.

 

Schizoaffective Disorder is difficult to diagnose because it is so similiar to both Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Many people with the Disorder will be initially diagnosed with either Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder before reaching a final diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder. Treatment is usually with anti-psychotic medication, anti-depressants, and mood stabilisers.

Diagnostic Criteria

1. An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is either (1) a Major Depressive Episode, (2) a Manic Episode, or (3) a Mixed Episode concurrent with symptoms that meet (4) Criterion A for Schizophrenia.

   Note: The Major Depressive Episode must include depressed mood.

   (1) Criteria for Major Depressive Episode

   • Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

     Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.

     1. depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
     2. markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
     3. significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
     4. insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
     5. psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
     6. fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
     7. feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
     8. diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
     9. recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
   • The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode
   • The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
   • The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
   • The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.

   (2) Criteria for Manic Episode

   • A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary).
   • During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
     1. inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
     2. decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
     3. more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
     4. flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
     5. distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
     6. increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
     7. excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
   • The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode
   • The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
   • The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

   (3) Criteria for Mixed Episode

   • The criteria are met both for a Manic Episode and for a Major Depressive Episode (except for duration) nearly every day during at least a 1-week period.
   • The mood disturbance is sufficiently severe to cause marked impairment in occupational functioning or in usual social activities or relationships with others, or to necessitate hospitalization to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features.
   • The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

   (4) Criterion A of Schizophrenia

   • Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated):
     • delusions
     • hallucinations
     • disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence)
     • grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
     • negative symptoms, i.e., affective flattening, alogia, or avolition
   • Only one symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary on the person's behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other.
2. During the same period of illness, there have been delusions or hallucinations for at least 2 weeks in the absence of prominent mood symptoms.
3. Symptoms that meet criteria for a mood episode are present for a substantial portion of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness.
4. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

Specify type:

• Bipolar Type: if the disturbance includes a Manic or a Mixed Episode (or a Manic or a Mixed Episode and Major Depressive Episodes)
• Depressive Type: if the disturbance only includes Major Depressive Episodes

 

Associated Features

• Learning Problem
• Hypoactivity
• Psychotic
• Euphoric Mood
• Depressed Mood
• Somatic/Sexual Dysfunction
• Hyperactivity
• Guilt/Obsession
• Odd/Eccentric/Suspicious Personality
• Anxious/Fearful/Dependent Personality
• Dramatic/Erratic/Antisocial Personality

 

Differential Diagnosis

Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition, a delirium, or a dementia; Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder; Substance-Induced Delirium; Delusional Disorder; Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.