Image courtesy of 'Readings in Humanistic Psychiatry'

Whilst ’schizophrenia’ and ‘bipolar’ are words that are relatively well-known to those with any clue about mental illness, however, the term ‘schizoaffective disorder‘ is not as well known. Increasingly, as I understand it, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are being thought of as on a spectrum with different clusters of symptoms at various points across the scale. Where ’schizophrenia’ may be at one end of the spectrum, ‘bipolar’ may be at the other. Schizoaffective disorder probably lies somewhere in between the two.

From the ‘Understanding Schizoaffective Disorder’ factsheet (available from the Mental Illness Fellowship Australia website):

Schizoaffective disorder is a disorder in which mood swings similar to those found in bipolar disorder are present together with symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, disorganised behaviour and negative symptoms). To be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, there must also have been a period of at least two weeks of delusions or hallucinations without prominent mood symptoms.

There are two subtypes of schizoaffective disorder:

1. Schizoaffective bipolar type – where symptoms include manic episodes or manic and depressive episodes
2. Schizoaffective depressive type – where the symptoms include depressive episodes only.

Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder may include:

• During a depressive episode, symptoms may include poor appetite, weight loss, insomnia, agitation, general slowing down, loss of energy and loss of interest in usual activities, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, difficulties with concentration, and suicidal thoughts.
• During an episode of mania, symptoms may include an increase in work, social and sexual activity, racing thoughts and talking, inflated self-esteem, grandiosity, reduced need for sleep, and self-destructive behaviours.
• Psychotic symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, disorganised behaviour, total immobility, lack of facial expression, and loss of motivation.

Source: Understanding Schizoaffective Disorder, www.mifellowshipaustralia.org.au

During my time seeing psychiatrists, one in particular gave me a choice of diagnoses – either ’schizophrenia’, ‘bipolar disorder’ or ’schizoaffective disorder’. I chose to go with the latter as it seems to make the most sense (if I am to adopt a psychiatric label at all) due to the nature of my symptoms at the time of my episodes. To anyone who is seeing a psychiatrist for treatment of a “mental disorder”, I would highly recommend getting a second opinion from someone without ties to that psychiatrist – as with any sort of ailment, any particular doctor can get it wrong.

Tags: schizoaffective disorder