Is schizoaffective disorder the same as schizophrenia

Overview

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder that is marked by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression or mania.

The two types of schizoaffective disorder — both of which include some symptoms of schizophrenia — are:

• Bipolar type, which includes episodes of mania and sometimes major depression
• Depressive type, which includes only major depressive episodes

Schizoaffective disorder may run a unique course in each affected person.

Untreated schizoaffective disorder may lead to problems functioning at work, at school and in social situations, causing loneliness and trouble holding down a job or attending school. People with schizoaffective disorder may need assistance and support with daily functioning. Treatment can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Symptoms

Schizoaffective disorder symptoms may vary from person to person. People with the condition experience psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, as well as symptoms of a mood disorder — either bipolar type (episodes of mania and sometimes depression) or depressive type (episodes of depression).

Although the development and course of schizoaffective disorder may vary, defining features include a major mood episode (depressed or manic mood) and at least a two-week period of psychotic symptoms when a major mood episode is not present.

Signs and symptoms of schizoaffective disorder depend on the type — bipolar or depressive type — and may include, among others:

• Delusions — having false, fixed beliefs, despite evidence to the contrary
• Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren't there
• Impaired communication and speech, such as being incoherent
• Bizarre or unusual behavior
• Symptoms of depression, such as feeling empty, sad or worthless
• Periods of manic mood, with an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep over several days, and behaviors that are out of character
• Impaired occupational, academic and social functioning
• Problems with managing personal care, including cleanliness and physical appearance

When to see a doctor

If you think someone you know may have schizoaffective disorder symptoms, talk to that person about your concerns. Although you can't force someone to seek professional help, you can offer encouragement and support and help find a qualified doctor or mental health professional.

If your loved one can't provide his or her own food, clothing or shelter, or if the safety of your loved one or others is a concern, you may need to call 911 or other emergency responders for help so that your loved one can be evaluated by a mental health professional.

Suicidal thoughts or behavior

Talk of suicide or suicidal behavior may occur in someone with schizoaffective disorder. If you have a loved one who is in danger of attempting suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone stays with that person. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Or, if you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Causes

The exact causes of schizoaffective disorder are still being investigated, but genetics are likely a factor.

Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of developing schizoaffective disorder include:

• Having a close blood relative — such as a parent or sibling — who has schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• Stressful events that may trigger symptoms
• Taking mind-altering drugs, which may worsen symptoms when an underlying disorder is present

Complications

People with schizoaffective disorder are at an increased risk of:

• Suicide, suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts
• Social isolation
• Family and interpersonal conflicts
• Unemployment
• Anxiety disorders
• Alcohol or other substance use problems
• Significant health problems
• Poverty and homelessness

Nov. 09, 2019

If you have schizophrenia, then you may hear voices that aren’t real and see things that don’t actually exist. If you have schizoaffective disorder, then you may feel detached from reality and struggle to manage your mood. These two disorders often sound similar and have some things in common. However, understanding the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is important to finding the right treatment and managing these conditions effectively.

What Is Schizoaffective Disorder?

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder in which a person may experience schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, as well as mood disorder symptoms, such as episodes of mania and depression. People with schizoaffective disorder may also often feel out of touch with reality.

There are two types of schizoaffective disorder, both of which include symptoms of schizophrenia:

• Bipolar type: This includes episodes of mania and sometimes depression
• Depressive type: Includes only episodes of major depression

Without mental health treatment, schizoaffective disorder can lead to problems functioning at work, in school, and in social situations. As a result, a person’s social life, relationships, and career can suffer greatly.

People with schizoaffective disorder may need assistance and support in daily functioning, depending on the severity of their condition. However, the earlier one receives treatment, the better their chances of leading an independent and happy life.

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is also a mental health disorder in which a person interprets their reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may lead to a combination of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior.

Individuals with this condition may experience impaired thinking and daily functioning. They may also exhibit incoherent speech and disorganized behavior, which generally leads to a flat emotional affect in which the person shows little to no emotion and tends to speak less than the average person.

Other signs of schizophrenia include deficits in memory, attention, ability to process new information, and difficulty problem-solving. This can be a distressing and debilitating condition when it goes untreated.

Like people with schizoaffective disorder, those diagnosed with schizophrenia often require lifelong care. Therefore, the earlier one seeks schizophrenia treatment, the higher their chances of recovery and independent living despite their symptoms.

What Is the Difference Between Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder?

So how is schizoaffective disorder different from schizophrenia? If you think the two sound similar, we don’t blame you.

Symptoms

The difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is that people with schizoaffective disorder also experience mood disorder symptoms, such as episodes of depression and/or mania. These mood episodes are also common in people with bipolar disorder.

When someone experiences mania or a manic episode, they may feel extremely energetic, alert, and happy, or even irritable. When someone experiences an episode of depression or depressed mood, they may feel low, sad, and down for most of the day.

This can be an additional dimension of this condition that can make managing symptoms all the more complicated. Subtle differences in the symptoms between schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia can help distinguish the two disorders when it comes to diagnosing and treating them.

For instance, a person with schizophrenia can become depressed or manic, but these mood disorder symptoms are usually prominent or a persistent aspect of their condition. A person with schizoaffective disorder, on the other hand, is likely to experience severe mood swings that account for more than half of the duration of their illness.

Additionally, the symptoms of schizophrenia tend to be persistent, whereas the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder tend to come and go. So, while people with schizophrenia may experience persistent symptoms, those with schizoaffective disorder are more likely to have frequent symptom-free intervals.

Causes

After years of research, scientists still can’t quite put their fingers on the cause of schizophrenia. They believe that chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate might play a role in its occurrence.

Researchers also believe that the brains of people with schizophrenia look different from the brains of people without it. This difference may also indicate that the illness occurs during the development of the brain itself.

Although research on schizoaffective disorder is even more limited, scientists have managed to make more breakthroughs. For instance, researchers believe that schizoaffective disorder is caused by genes that control the body’s natural sleep and wake cycles, otherwise known as Period and Cryptochrome genes.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder vs. schizophrenia is also different. As previously mentioned, mood symptoms aren’t expected to occur without psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia.

The psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, are always present in these individuals, but mood symptoms may come and go. On the other hand, in people with schizoaffective disorder, psychotic symptoms may or may not be present when mood symptoms occur.

Additionally, both conditions are diagnosed by healthcare professionals with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). In this manual, doctors can diagnose their patients depending on their symptoms and the duration of their symptoms in addition to other series of tests and mental health assessments.

Can Schizoaffective Disorder Turn Into Schizophrenia?

For the most part, no, schizoaffective disorder does not turn into schizophrenia. Schizoaffective disorder is a separate condition that, although considered a chronic or life-long condition, usually becomes less severe with age.

As they get older, people with schizoaffective disorder may experience fewer and less severe symptoms, especially when they’re middle-aged. The same cannot be said about people with schizophrenia.

Fortunately, while there is no cure for either condition, both are treatable and manageable with medication and behavioral therapy.

Finding Mental Health Treatment

While there’s clearly a difference between schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, both conditions can be properly managed with professional treatment. At our inpatient mental health rehab, we offer various forms of mental health care for individuals diagnosed with mood or psychotic disorders.

Included in our Boca behavioral health services is therapy of all kinds, including top-rated programs like dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients receiving treatment at our mental therapy center will have the opportunity to work with our trained and highly-skilled team of professionals to understand their conditions, learn how to manage their symptoms, and develop the skills they require to live happy and fulfilling lives.

Our mental treatment center is here to help. Call Banyan Mental Health today at 888-280-4763 to learn how you or a loved one can get started today.

Related Reading:
How Schizophrenia Was Portrayed in A Beautiful Mind
What Not to Say to Someone with Schizophrenia

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