Schizoaffective Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment And Prognosis

He schizoaffective disorder It can be defined as a mental disorder in which people who suffer from it suffer from a combination of symptoms associated with schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms associated with a mood disorder or bipolar (severe depressive or manic symptoms).

It is a mental health condition that would be found between the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, since the symptoms of both disorders are usually present. However, its evolution may be different in each individual and those who suffer from it and do not receive treatment may have problems in the social, school, and work environments. In addition to this, they also usually present problems with perception, emotional psychological processes, and complications in taking care of themselves.

The Causes of schizoaffective disorder have not been identified, but specialists have pointed out that there are a series of factors that in combination can favor its development and appearance. Between these risk factor’sare those detailed below:

• Factors of genetic origin: Those who have immediate family members with schizophrenia, bipolar or schizoaffective disorder are more likely to suffer from this disorder in their lifetime than those who do not.
• Physical factors: Variations have been observed in the chemistry and structure of the brain of people who suffer from this mental disorder, such as, for example, having a smaller brain volume. It has also been noted that those who suffer from developmental delays are at greater risk of suffering from this disease.
• Environmental factors: It has been shown that being exposed to toxins or viruses while inside the mother’s uterus can increase the risk of developing this disorder throughout life. In addition to this, brain damage that can occur due to complications in childbirth or situations of abuse and abandonment can also be decisive in the appearance of this mental health condition.

Other possible risk factors for schizoaffective disorder include:

• Having previously suffered from a mental illness.
• Having gone through a traumatic experience.
• Consumption and abuse of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Having experienced very stressful episodes.

Schizoaffective disorder can develop at any stage of life, although it has been noted that it occurs more frequently in early adult stage. Depending on the age of the affected person, it has also been observed that one type of schizoaffective disorder or another manifests itself, since in young adults bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder usually occurs, while in older people it manifests with more frequently the depressive type.

Regarding its prevalence in the population, we can say that it affects a third of people who have schizophrenia and that it occurs more frequently in women than in men.

The signs and symptoms of schizoaffective disorder vary considerably from one person to another and its evolution is characterized by periods of intense and severe symptoms with other periods of improvement and less intense symptoms. Generally, they are people who present psychotic symptoms and symptoms of bipolar disorder or depressive type at the same time. Next, we show what the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder that affected people present at a physical, behavioral, cognitive and psychosocial level:

Physical symptoms

• Sleep disorders.
• Changes in eating habits.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Lack of hygiene.
• Changes in physical appearance and lack of concern for one’s own image.

Behavioral symptoms

• Deficiencies in occupational, social and academic performance.
• Difficult or no communication: such as not responding to what was asked or responding only partially.
• Disordered behaviors.
• Isolation.
• Alternation of fast and slow movements.
• Self-harm attempts.
• Suicidal attempts.
• Absence of will and mobility.

Cognitive symptoms

• Delusions.
• Hallucinations: such as visualizing things that do not exist or hearing voices.
• Depressive symptoms such as deep sadness, feeling empty or worthless.
• Fast, accelerated and disordered thinking.
• Difficult to focus.
• Perception problems.
• Paranoia.
• Memory problems.

Psychosocial symptoms

• Manic episodes.
• Depressive episodes.
• High and excessive anxiety.
• Alternation of very high or excessively low self-esteem.

The treatment of schizoaffective disorder must be established based on the type of this illness that occurs, as well as the severity of the symptoms manifested. In general, patients tend to respond well to a clinical intervention in which there is a combination of medication with psychotherapy to try to reduce symptoms and be able to control their emotions and positively manage their social and self-care behaviors.

He pharmacological treatment of schizoaffective disorder may cover the following:

• Antidepressants: drugs that help the affected person reduce and manage deep sadness, anguish, insomnia and difficulties concentrating.
• Antipsychotics: as is the case of the atypical antipsychotic paliperidone, which modifies some natural substances in the brain and reduces the symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Euthymizers: drugs that help stabilize mood and reduce euphoric episodes and depressive episodes.

As we have already mentioned, a combination of pharmacological treatment with psychotherapy must be done, and in this case the most appropriate psychological treatment would be cognitive-behavioral therapy. Its objectives are the following:

• Help the affected person identify all depressive or manic symptoms in order to work on them.
• Help you clarify how you construct your reality and how you give meaning to your life experiences based on your cognitive errors and your personal history.
• Improve your communication and social interaction.
• Develop new personal and social skills.

People who have schizoaffective disorder have a better evolution than, for example, those who have schizophrenia. However, its prognosis is more negative than that of other mood disorders due to the perceptual problems that develop. Furthermore, it is important to note that the more psychotic symptoms manifest, the more chronic this illness is. Frequently, it requires a prolonged pharmacological and psychological treatment to control the symptoms and the evolution can vary greatly from one person to another.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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