There are no tests or exams that will reveal this disorder. Although there may be periods of time when there are no symptoms of a mood disorder, they are present most of the time.īecause schizoaffective disorder can masquerade as a mood disorder or schizophrenia, it is difficult for health professionals to diagnose. Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed when there is a period of time with a major depressive or manic mood and, at the same time, at least two psychotic symptoms appear, or when there is no sign of a major mood disorder but clear symptoms of schizophrenia-psychosis persist for at least two weeks. Note: A lack of personal hygiene applies to both psychosis and mood.īecause the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder overlap with those of bipolar or depressive disorder and schizophrenia, the condition can be difficult to diagnose. Mania: does not need sleep, high energy.The mood symptoms that must be present include: Flat affect or anhedonia, so-called 'negative' symptoms of schizophrenia.Impaired or incoherent speech, which may include catatonia.Delusions: having false beliefs even when they are refuted with evidence.Hallucinations : seeing things or hearing voices, for example.The symptoms of psychosis, which are identical to the primary criteria for schizophrenia, include: To be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, the DSM-5 states that at least two psychotic symptoms must be present, as well as mood symptoms of a specific duration. The onset of the disorder may be seen in the late teenage years to early adulthood, and even sometimes until age 30. While at least two primary criteria for schizophrenia must be present, an important distinction is that people with schizoaffective disorder are more functional in terms of self-care and in their ability to interact with others.

Because the prevalence of the disorder is low and because it includes both mood and psychotic features, the disorder can be difficult to diagnose. Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed in fewer people than schizophrenia: Approximately 1 percent of the population worldwide will be diagnosed with schizophrenia. The psychotic and mood symptoms may occur together or at different times. There are two types of the disorder, one is the bipolar type and the other is the depressive type. Schizoaffective disorder is a thought disorder that includes both psychotic features, as seen in schizophrenia, and mood symptoms that may be either depressive or manic in presentation.

Schizophrenia flat affect