SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER TREATMENT IN SCOTTSDALE
Schizoaffective disorder treatment has been part of my practice in Scottsdale AZ for over 20 years. Schizoaffective disorder is similar to schizophrenia to the extent that both conditions share similar symptoms, yet they are much more different with regards to their causes and mood swings vs flat affect. Both disorders share the symptoms of psychosis or hallucinations, abnormal thinking, and mood issues. Schizoaffective disorder is a very difficult diagnosis and very similar to the condition of bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Treatment for schizoaffective disorder is generally successful.
Symptoms
Another salient symptom of the two disorders is the individual believes that people are esoterically communicating to them by certain gestures. These symptoms are called ideas of reference and are a good indicator of schizophrenia. Often the individual is withdrawn, emotionally flat. Therefore, doesn’t experience the depression or mood swings as one would with schizoaffective disorder; with the exception of the paranoia.
Schizoaffective disorder would include the symptoms of schizophrenia with conspicuous mood swings between depression or mania, and often during a time period apart from the psychosis. The symptoms of this disorder can manifest in varying degrees and length of time which make it a difficult diagnosis between bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia usually causes the individual to become reclusive and have a flat emotional affect. If someone is exhibiting symptoms but is out-going in nature and more sociable, the diagnosis leans more towards schizoaffective disorder.
Diagnosing Schizoaffective Disorder
Bipolar disorder with psychotic features, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia are all difficult to diagnose and treat. Again these differences might appear moot and a matter of taxonomy or semantics because the treatment and prognoses are nearly identical.
Schizoaffective disorder is probably the most difficult illness to diagnose and the criteria to assess the symptoms are not distinct. The four diagnostic criteria are so close to schizophrenia or on the other end bipolar disorder; many psychiatrists tend to diagnose one or the other and avoid the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder all together.
The diagnosis entails that a person needs to have primary symptoms of schizophrenia (such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and disorganized behavior) along with a period of time with symptoms of major depression or a manic episode. There might be two sub-types of schizoaffective disorder:
- Depressive – characterized by major depressive episodes only
- Bipolar – characterized by manic episodes with or without depressive symptoms or depressive episodes
Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia
Both illnesses manifest similar symptoms, and an imbalance in the neurotransmitters with the psychosis being caused by too much dopamine. The excess dopamine is the subject of research and most likely vary with each situation. Some studies have claimed to be able to prevent schizophrenia from manifesting, by having the individual avoid the environmental stresses that bring about this disease.
This seems to beg the question in that since there are not yet any bio-markers, one would not know that they were suffering from the illness until it has manifested in which case, prevention is a not possible. With schizoaffective disorder, the sooner the diagnosis, the better the prognosis. The treatment for this disorder would involve the anti-psychotic medications, psychotherapy, and a mood stabilizer. The prognosis for schizoaffective disorder is somewhere in between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, this will of course vary on the individual.
Treatment for Schizoaffective Disorder
One of the more effective treatments of schizoaffective disorder is a combination of medication management and psychosocial interventions. Medications include anti-psychotics combined with antidepressants or newer mood stabilizers. The newer atypical anti-psychotics are safer than the older anti-psychotics. The newer drugs may also have better effects on mood symptoms and fewer side effects.
Side effects may include excessive sleepiness, weight gain, elevation of liver enzymes, and sometimes diabetes. Different anti-psychotic drugs have somewhat different side effect profiles. Changing from one anti-psychotic to another one may help if a person with schizoaffective disorder does not respond well, or develops distressing side effects with the first medication. The same principle applies to the use of antidepressants or mood stabilizers.
Studies suggest that cognitive behavior therapy, brief psychotherapy, and social skills training are likely to have a beneficial effect. Most people with schizoaffective disorder require long-term therapy with a combination of medications and psychosocial interventions in order to avoid relapses, and maintain an appropriate level of functioning and quality of life. With the proper medications and therapy many can enjoy a life of happiness and fulfillment. Read more about schizoaffective disorder.
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