For a person with Schizoaffective Disorder, life can be a frightening place. Imagine feeling depressed today, then elated tomorrow, then experiencing hallucinations somewhere in between your depressed and elated states. For one in every two hundred people who live with this often misunderstood disease, this is every day existence.
What is Schizoaffective Disorder?
Schizoaffective disorder is an illness that takes on the traits of both a mood disorder (depression or mania) and classic schizophrenia (hallucinations, paranoia, etc.). Sufferers of this illness are often misdiagnosed as having severe mood disorders such as Manic Depression. Moreover, while this illness only affects a small percentage of the population, many who are affected also go undiagnosed for years before seeking treatment.
What is the cause and the symptoms?
No one knows what exactly causes Schizoaffective Disorder, but what is known suggests a link with genetics along with biochemical disturbances in the brain. Often mental health professionals will search a patient’s family history for any common occurrences.
Schizoaffective disorder symptoms can start with the symptoms of severe depression or bipolar disorder, hence, the reason why it is misdiagnosed so often. One may spend years experiencing one or more of the following symptoms;
--Depressive emotions (feelings of worthlessness, change in appetite or sleep
patterns, decreased activity levels, apathy, and/or reoccurring thoughts of suicide)
--Manic emotions (Talkativeness, irritability, euphoria, racing thoughts, distractibility, and/or increased activity levels)
What separates the Schizoaffective Disorder sufferer from the Affective (mood) Disorder sufferer are the symptoms that develop after years of experiencing what is thought to be depression or Manic Depression;
--Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
--Paranoia (believing that someone or some group or people are out to hurt you or are against you in some way)
--Incoherent or disturbed speech (suddenly jumping from topic to topic, making up words, speaking in fragmented sentences)
--Deterioration of personal hygiene and grooming
Mood disorder sufferers who experience these symptoms for more than two weeks should consult their doctor as soon as possible to being treatment.
How is it treated?
The treatment itself varies from case to case. Antipsychotics along with antiseizure or antidepressant medication may be used in an attempt to stabilize this condition. This, however, is a risky treatment as some antidepressants can trigger mania in some sufferers. Generally, the treatment is done on an individual basis. Some can take antidepressants with no problem, some can’t. And for others, no medication seems to work at all and they must turn to other means of treatment.
As with any mental illness, one should always consult with a physician if they suspect a mental deficiency. While there is no cure for Schizoaffective Disorder, it can be treated. If you suspect that you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact your family physician or mental health care provider. With the proper assistance and treatment, Schizoaffective Disorder sufferers can lead normal, healthy lives.
