Schizoaffective Disorder | Overview & Treatment

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by symptoms also associated with schizophrenia and mood disorders, including hallucinations and depressive or manic episodes.

If you or someone you love is suffering from schizoaffective disorder, treatment options are available.

Schizoaffective Disorder Treatment At Bedrock Recovery Center

At Bedrock Recovery Center, we offer a wide range of treatment options for you to consider, including medication management, individual and group psychotherapy, coping skills development training, and more.

If you or a loved one are suffering from schizoaffective disorder or other disorders such as anxiety disorders or a mood disorder, our treatment center can help you manage your condition to live a healthy, balanced life.

Schizoaffective Disorder(s)

Schizoaffective disorder is a severe mental health disorder that is frequently misdiagnosed due to its overlap in symptoms with schizophrenia and various mood disorders.

Types Of Schizoaffective Disorders

There are two subtypes of schizoaffective disorder seen in patients. The first is the bipolar type, in which a person experiences manic episodes and depression.

The second is the depressive type. This type includes only depressive episodes.

Diagnosis

To receive a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, you will need to first speak with a mental health professional to rule out similar disorders.

Diagnosing schizoaffective disorder can prove difficult due to bipolar disorder and other mood disorders which overlap in symptoms.

Your doctor will examine your mood symptoms to determine your disorder.

Signs & Symptoms

Some of the signs and symptoms of schizoaffective disorder include:

• problems managing self-care
• impacted quality of life such as broken relationships or loss of work
• delusions
• psychosis
• manic episodes
• depressive episodes

Symptoms of schizophrenia can overlap with schizoaffective disorder, such as mania and major depression.

With schizophrenia, a person can experience psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations.

Risk Factors

Although there is no exact cause of schizoaffective disorder, there are several risk factors.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), risk factors of schizoaffective disorder include:

• history of substance use
• biological components
• environmental factors such as certain life experiences or living in poverty
• social effects
• brain structure

Statistics

Some of the statistics regarding schizoaffective disorder include:

• 50% of people with schizophrenia also have comorbid depression
• schizoaffective disorder has a lifetime prevalence of 0.3%
• schizoaffective disorder affects men and women equally
• men may experience this type of mental illness at an earlier age than women
• schizoaffective disorder is less common than schizophrenia and mood disorders

Treating Schizoaffective Disorder

The treatment of schizoaffective disorder may take time to determine depending on the severity of your psychotic disorder. Other mood disorders need to be ruled out to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Medication

Some of the medications used for those suffering from schizoaffective disorder may include:

• antidepressant medications
• antipsychotic medications such as paliperidone (Invega)
• mood stabilizers such as lithium
• atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, and aripiprazole

These medications may help treat symptoms of depression and anxiety caused from the mental health disorder. Certain medications may have side effects, so be sure to speak with your healthcare representative if any adverse effects occur.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be helpful for those suffering from schizoaffective disorder. Various forms of therapy may consist of individual, group, or family therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment useful for many types of anxiety disorders, including schizoaffective disorder.

Other Treatment Options

Other treatment options to consider are support groups and ongoing therapy options. Continued long-term treatment may be necessary to help maintain a normal lifestyle.

Social skills training is a form of treatment which focuses on self-care and social skills in a work or group environment. This practice combined with medications can prove beneficial.

Those who do not respond well with medications or other forms of treatment may require electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

How To Find Schizoaffective Disorder Treatment

Thankfully, you can find various treatment options if you live with schizoaffective disorder.

PCP Or Family Physician

Reach out to your primary healthcare physician who can refer you to a mental health professional. Begin the treatment process by first informing your doctor of your mental health condition.

Your family doctor may have treated you since early adulthood and knows your history, which can be helpful in diagnosing the disorder, especially if other family members have exhibited similar mental health issues.

Reach Out To Licensed Treatment Providers

If you’re seeking treatment for yourself or a family member, contact treatment providers within the area. You can learn more about inpatient and outpatient care for those suffering from this serious mental health condition.

This includes Bedrock Recovery Center as an option.

If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues, please contact us today to determine the treatment plan which best fits your needs.