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