What is schizoaffective disorder?

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health disorder that combines symptoms of a mood disorder (such as depression or bipolar disorder) and those of schizophrenia. Like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder is a type of psychosis. It is a mental health disorder where a person becomes disconnected from reality. This disconnection affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.

Schizoaffective disorder usually first appears in early adulthood (between 25 and 35 years of age) and females seem more susceptible than males.

The 2 subtypes of schizoaffective disorder are grouped by the main symptom types that people experience:

• Bipolar type, in which people who are affected experience episodes of mania (feeling very euphoric or high), depression (feeling low, hopeless and very sad) or feeling both of these intense emotional states at different times. This is also called schizoaffective bipolar type.
• Depressive type, in which people who are affected experience episodes of depression. This is also called schizoaffective depressive type.

What are the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder?

If you or someone else is having urgent symptoms of schizoaffective disorder, such as harmful behaviours or having thoughts of suicide, call triple-zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

The symptoms of schizoaffective disorder include combinations of symptoms of psychosis, mania and depression. Symptoms are wide ranging, and each person’s symptoms can be unique and specific to the type of schizoaffective disorder they have.

The symptoms of schizoaffective disorder occur in cycles, with periods of severe symptoms followed by periods of improvement. The different symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can also occur together or at different times.

Symptoms of psychosis

Psychosis refers to a group of symptoms that are common to several mental health disorders, including schizoaffective disorder. Symptoms of psychosis affect how a person thinks, feels and behaves. Symptoms include:

• delusions (strongly held beliefs that are not true)
• hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that others cannot hear or see
• disorganised thoughts, speeches, or behaviours

Symptoms of psychosis may lead the person affected to withdraw from social activities and decrease their level of performance at work or school.

Symptoms of mania

Mania can appear as sudden increased energy, elation (being extremely happy) or excitement, or the person may behave out of character. Examples of these behaviours might include a person mistakenly thinking they have great wealth or thinking that they have special powers, but this will vary from person to person.

Symptoms of clinical depression

Symptoms of a clinical depression are different from normal feelings of unhappiness or sadness. In clinical depression, the person is extremely distressed with feelings of emptiness or numbness, and they cannot enjoy life normally. Specific symptoms that may be experienced by people with clinical depression include:

• decreased appetite with weight loss, or increased appetite with weight gain
• trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• losing all pleasure and enjoyment from activities that were once pleasurable
• fatigue, with overwhelming feeling of exhaustion
• feeling guilty or worthless
• thoughts of death

What causes schizoaffective disorder?

It is not clear why people develop schizoaffective disorder, but doctors think that several factors work together to trigger the disorder. These factors include:

• genetic factors, such as having an immediate family member with a mental health disorder (particularly schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia)
• changes in the chemicals and structure of the brain
• environmental factors, such as stress or using psychoactive drugs

When should I see my doctor?

If you or someone else is having urgent symptoms of schizoaffective disorder, such as exhibiting harmful behaviours or having thoughts of suicide, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

If you or someone you know has symptoms and they are worrisome, it’s important to see a doctor or mental health professional.

Some symptoms of schizoaffective disorder need urgent medical attention, especially if they involve behaviours that may be harmful to the person affected, or those nearby.

How is schizoaffective disorder diagnosed?

A clinical psychologist or psychiatrist has the skills and training to diagnose schizoaffective disorder. They will consider your personal and medical history and the symptoms you have had over an extended period when diagnosing this disorder.

Diagnosing schizoaffective disorder is challenging because its symptoms and how it appears in people vary. Diagnosis is also difficult because many symptoms of schizoaffective disorder are similar to those of other mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Most commonly, a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is made if a person has symptoms of schizophrenia and symptoms of a mood disorder at the same time and for a minimum of 2 weeks.

How is schizoaffective disorder treated?

Treatment for schizoaffective disorder usually includes a combination of medicines, psychological therapy and counselling. It is important to treat the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder as soon as possible. The sooner a person has treatment, the less likely they will have symptoms for long periods of time.

Treatments for schizoaffective disorder may include:

• Medicines, such as antipsychotic medicines and antidepressants or medicines that stabilise mood.
• Psychological therapy and counselling. This includes talk therapy to provide the person with strategies to help manage the disorder and stressful triggers, and to avoid negative effects that can sometimes happen with mental health disorders, such as hospitalisation.

Support systems, such as understanding and support from family, friends and support groups, are very important for a person with a mental health disorder, such as schizoaffective disorder.

Family and friends may also need support services to help them understand how to help the person with a mental health disorder. In addition, the person affected by a mental health disorder may need help with practical matters, including accessing medical and disability services.

Other ways to manage the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder include healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, reducing or stopping alcohol and drug use, exercising and improving your diet. Taking part in life skills programmes may help improve personal relationships and provide practical skills.

Can schizoaffective disorder be prevented?

There’s no known way to prevent Schizoaffective disorder. However, there are ways to help manage symptoms and prevent symptom triggers so the person diagnosed with this disorder can live a fulfilling life. Some people will need long-term support to achieve this goal, others may need help at times when their symptoms are more severe, while others may not need much support at all to manage their disorder.

Complications of schizoaffective disorder

People with a mental health disorder may also have other long-term health conditions that may not be related to their disorder. It is important to manage all health conditions to optimise long-term wellbeing.

Keeping symptoms under control can help the person with schizoaffective disorder stay at work, university or school. This will also help them reach their life goals and prevent other negative effects, that are not directly related to their mental health condition.

Resources and support

If you or someone you care about is affected by schizoaffective disorder, visit one of these support groups:

• SANE
• Medicare Mental Health

You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.