Living with intense mood shifts can make daily life seem unpredictable and exhausting. And when you add in hallucinations and delusions, it can feel even more confusing and overwhelming. But for some people, this is simply part of everyday life with a psychotic mood disorder.
Schizoaffective disorder is a serious mental health condition, but with the right care, many people learn to manage symptoms and regain a sense of control.
If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one living with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health professional can offer you tailored advice. This guide can also help, whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting a loved one. It covers the basics of schizoaffective disorder treatment, including:
Schizoaffective disorder is classed as a psychotic disorder and is often a lifelong condition. It causes a person to experience psychotic symptoms (even if mood symptoms are stable) and mood episodes (either depressive, manic, or both), and symptoms can overlap and feel intense. Without treatment, schizoaffective disorder can make it incredibly hard to work, stay connected with others, or keep up with everyday responsibilities.
Fortunately, schizoaffective disorder treatment is available to help effectively manage and control these symptoms, meaning recovery is absolutely possible. That’s why getting an accurate diagnosis matters. For this reason, in the following sections, we cover the differences between schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, as well as the different types of this disorder.
Schizoaffective vs Schizophrenia
A common question many people ask is how schizoaffective disorder is different from schizophrenia. The key difference between the two conditions lies in the mood symptoms. While people with schizophrenia may experience mood issues, these are often not persistent or central to the diagnosis. However, in schizoaffective disorder, as well as psychosis, mood episodes are a defining feature.
This difference matters because it can influence the treatment approach needed to fully address the specific symptoms a person has.
Types of Schizoaffective Disorder
There are two main types of schizoaffective disorder, which are classified based on mood symptoms. These are:3
Bipolar type schizoaffective disorder: Includes periods of mania or hypomania, possible depression, and psychosis that occurs both with and without these moods
Knowing which type someone has helps clinicians choose the most effective treatment approach.
Now that we have a clearer understanding of schizoaffective disorder, let’s move on to exploring the symptoms. This is key to receiving an accurate diagnosis and getting the support needed.
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
While symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can vary from person to person, they usually fall into three main groups:2,3,5
If any of these symptoms feel familiar, you’re far from alone. Around one in every two hundred people is thought to develop schizoaffective disorder at some point during their life.6 And, while certain symptoms can feel scary or confusing, schizoaffective disorder treatment can make a real difference when it comes to managing symptoms and living a fulfilling life.
Yet, many people wonder What causes schizoaffective disorder? In the next section, we aim to provide clarity on the causes and risk factors for this condition.
Genetics: Schizoaffective disorder tends to run in families. This doesn’t mean that if a relative has it, you’ll definitely get it, but you may have a greater chance of developing it.
Also, it’s worth noting that roughly 30% of people with schizoaffective disorder first experience symptoms between the ages of 25 and 35 years, with women being more affected than men.4
Understanding these factors can help reduce stigma and blame, allowing people to make sense of symptoms that might otherwise feel confusing or upsetting. However, before exploring the various schizoaffective disorder treatment options, it can be useful to see just how large an impact living with schizoaffective disorder can have on everyday life.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Schizoaffective Disorder support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
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Schizoaffective disorder doesn’t just affect mental health – it can spill into nearly every part of daily life. In the following sections, we explore the potential impacts of living with this disorder.
What’s more, schizoaffective disorder is linked with heart conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and obesity.3
Further, studies unfortunately show that among all completed suicides, one in ten are carried out by those with a psychotic condition.4 Because of this risk, it’s important to take suicidal thoughts seriously.
If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, reach out to a 24/7 suicide hotline such as 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate risk of danger, attend your nearest emergency department or call 911.
Thankfully, help for psychotic disorders is readily available. Schizoaffective disorder treatment often involves long-term psychiatric care and support to bring about lasting recovery. The various treatment options are discussed in the following sections.
The most common treatments for schizoaffective disorders are medication and psychotherapy (also known as “talk therapy”). Often, these are used in combination to get the best outcome for each individual patient’s needs and symptoms.2
Medications called “antipsychotics” are often prescribed to help stabilize symptoms of psychosis. Currently, only one medication is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder, and this is called “Paliperidone.” However, other antipsychotic drugs are also often prescribed to help manage psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.2
Mood stabilizers are often used in bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder to help level out the highs and lows of bipolar moods. On the other hand, if depression is the underlying mood disorder, antidepressants may be prescribed to help manage persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.3
Therapy for Schizoaffective Disorder
Therapy is a core part of schizoaffective disorder treatment. It helps people to better understand and make sense of their condition as well as support them to make positive changes for the future.
Several elements of therapy help these changes happen, including:2,5
Psychoeducation: This helps people to learn about the condition and understand their symptoms and personal triggers.
As you can imagine, therapy can help people living with this disorder and also their families and loved ones in better understanding how to support them.
Alternative Treatments
Sometimes, people don’t respond to medication and psychotherapy as well as they would like, so they may find that their symptoms are still unmanageable. In these cases, a treatment called “electroconvulsive therapy” (ECT) may be considered. This is most often used as a severe mental illness treatment, and studies show that it can be effective at improving certain mental health symptoms.2
Residential Mental Health Treatment
If schizoaffective disorder symptoms make you feel unsafe, in crisis, or unable to care for yourself properly, residential treatment may be an appropriate option to consider. Inpatient treatment for schizoaffective disorder offers intensive, non-stop support in a safe, structured setting, allowing you to focus fully on your recovery away from the usual stressors of daily life.
Residential stays offer 24/7 care and support from fully trained mental health professionals, including intensive therapy and medication management, all aimed at helping you to heal. What’s more, many programs are designed to feel calm and supportive, rather than clinical.
People often respond well to treatment for schizoaffective disorder, especially if diagnosis and treatment are received soon after symptoms appear. Therefore, effective treatment and support can help you find stability once more and feel more confident and hopeful about your future.
Living with schizoaffective disorder can feel overwhelming, but effective treatment exists and is available for you. With the right mix of medication, therapy, and support, stability is possible.
At AMFM, we offer residential programs and support for people experiencing schizoaffective disorder. Whether you are newly diagnosed or going through a particularly challenging time, our evidence-based treatments and compassionate care can help you heal in a safe and supportive setting.
Contact us today to find out more about our treatment programs and how we can support you on your journey to well-being.
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At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
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