Schizoaffective disorder - Symptoms and Treatment
Schizoaffective disorder - Symptoms and Treatment
February 06 2023 TalktoAngel 0 comments 1521 Views
A mental health condition known as schizoaffective disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms of
schizophrenia like delusions or hallucinations and
symptoms of a mood disorder like mania or depression. In reality, a lot of persons with
schizophrenia are originally given the incorrect diagnosis of bipolar disorder or depression. The major relationship between
schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia or a mood disorder is unknown to
scientists. But it's typically seen and handled as a combination of
the two illnesses.
The schizoaffective disorder affects around 0.03%
to 0.8% of the general population. Men and women are both equally likely to
contract it, but men typically do it earlier in life. Although doctors can help
to control it, most people who are diagnosed with it also have a
relapse. People who struggle with it frequently also
could struggle with substance abuse.TalktoAngel No. 1 Mental Health & well-being platform that provides the diagnosis of schizoaffective
disorder.
Types
of schizoaffective disorder
The two types of the disorder are bipolar
schizoaffective disorder and depressive schizoaffective disorder. Based on the
person's associated mood disorder, there are two types:
Bipolar
disorder: This disorder
is characterized by one or more distinct mood fluctuations. Mania is an intense
high that bipolar illness patients either experience alone or in conjunction
with lows (depression).
Depression
is a depressive disorder
in which a person has feelings of despair, helplessness, and sadness. They
might be also feeling suicidal. Additionally, they could have
trouble focusing and remembering things and a lack of motivation also.
Signs
and symptoms of schizoaffective disorder
Depression Signs
Schizoaffective disorder depressive symptoms might be psychological or physical.
Among the psychological signs are:
- Sadness
- Feeling unworthy
- Hopelessness
- Restlessness
- Not enough energy
- A lack of interest in activities that they
used to enjoy earlier
- Difficulty concentrating
- Guilt
- Self-blame
- Suicidal or death-related thoughts
Physical signs may consist of:
- Lack of appetite
- Gain or loss of weight
- Sleeping excessively or insufficiently
Symptoms
of Mania
Mania can occur in people with bipolar-type
schizoaffective disorder and comes with both psychological and physical
symptoms.
Typical psychological signs include:
- Self-destructive or dangerous behavior (e.g.,
spending sprees, reckless driving, risky sexual practices)
- Euphoria
- Angry mood
- Flustered thinking
- Grandiosity
- Distractibility
Some physical signs include:
- Increased activity or energy (e.g., at work,
socially, sexually)
- Speaking faster or louder than usual
- Fewer sleep hours required
Psychotic
Symptoms
Psychotic
symptoms may be divided into psychological and physical effects.
Psychological
symptoms can include:
- Paranoia
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized
thinking
- Impaired
communication
- Lack
of emotion in facial expressions and speech which are known as a negative symptom.
- Lack
of motivation
Poor
personal hygiene and delayed or nonexistent movement (catatonia) are examples
of physical symptoms. Schizoaffective disorder complications
- Health
issues
- Joblessness
and insecurities
- Impaired
performance at school and at work
- Interpersonal
disagreements
- Poverty
- Social
isolation
- Use
of drugs
- Suicidal
ideas and behaviors
- Problematic
treatment commitment
- Unemployment
Causes of schizoaffective disorder
- Genetics: Your parents may have
passed on to you a tendency to acquire characteristics associated with
schizoaffective disorder.
- Brain chemistry and structure:
Schizophrenia and mood disorders may cause issues with the neural pathways that
control thought and mood. Lower levels of dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter
that also helps in managing these activities, are associated with
schizophrenia.
- Environment: If
you're at risk for developing the schizoaffective disorder, some experts believe
that factors like viral infections or extremely stressful conditions may be
involved. It's unclear how that occurs.
- Using drugs to influence one's thoughts.
They may be referred to as psychoactive or psychotropic medications by your
doctor.
Treatment of the schizoaffective disorder
- The
medication you should take will
depend on whether you show signs of schizophrenia, bipolar illness, or
depression. Antipsychotics are the most common class of drugs that doctors use
to treat psychotic symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and abnormal or
disordered thinking. All of these medications may be able to treat schizoaffective disorder, but only paliperidone extended-release has the approval
to do so. You might take an antidepressant or a mood stabilizer for symptoms
linked to your mood. Seek online consultation with the best psychiatrist in India
for medication management of symptoms in the acute stage, maintenance phase, and
relapse phase.
- Psychotherapy:
This form of counseling aims to help you in understanding your condition,
create objectives, and manage day-to-day issues associated with the disorder.
Family therapy helps in the improvement of a family's ability to
support and relate to a loved one who suffers from schizoaffective disorder. Seek Online Consultation
with the best clinical psychologists near me, who shall help you in managing your thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
- Training in social skills:
This usually concentrates on work and social skills, grooming and self-care,
and other daily activities, such as money and house organization. The best “Clinical Psychologist near me”
along with an occupational therapist shall provide social skills and meaningful
engagements
- Hospitalization: If
a person is contemplating suicide or is threatening to hurt others, they should
be admitted to a hospital. The treatment in the hospital is managed by a team of
mental health professionals i.e., psychologists, clinical psychologists, nurses, behavior
therapists, dieticians, etc.
You could benefit from professional help, and discuss
your concerns about depression or mania with an Online
Counsellor and a psychologist of your choice. You can connect with the Best
Psychologists in India,
counsellors, psychologists, and Online
Psychiatrists and take Online Counselling at TalktoAngel No. 1 Mental Wellness
Counselling platform with
just one click, who can help you handle your mental health difficulties and
take care of your mental health on your own.
Contributed
by: Dr(Prof) R K Suri, Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor, & Life Coach & Dr. Sakshi Kochhar
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