Two mental conditions are sometimes present together. Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia are one of those. The conditions have delusions and are impaired in cognition. Schizophrenia focuses on the psychosis spectrum while focusing on both psychosis and mood disorder symptoms. Both of these should be distinguished, as they must be considered for appropriate patient treatment. In the present review article, we will first explore two conditions: schizoaffective disorder vs schizophrenia. Their symptoms, causes, diagnostics, and treatment have become our considerations. Let’s start our topic with a comprehensive guide to these two disorders!
Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia are distinct forms of psychosis and remain separate systems of diagnosis. For example, schizoaffective disorder can be defined and differentiated from schizophrenia (SZ) by the presence of severe mood symptoms. You can’t differentiate simply by looking at the impairment of the mood and SZ domains throughout the disease course. Below is the table of fundamental differences between these two disorders:
| Aspect | Schizoaffective Disorder | Schizophrenia |
| Mood Symptoms | Prominent | Rare or absent |
| Onset Age | Late teens to early 20s | Early to late 20s |
| Prognosis | Depends on mood symptom control | Long-term variability |
| Treatment Focus | Psychosis + mood stability | Psychosis Management |
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychological disorder that can be chronic and persistent. In the opinion of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, clinicians observe psychotic constituents similar to schizophrenia characterized by hallucinations or delusions. It’s a rare condition with a lifetime prevalence of just 0.3 percent.
Symptoms
Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia symptoms highlight severe affective and interpersonal impairment, and they require monitoring as some individuals may experience distressing episodes. They may also be dependent on the type of mood disorder diagnosed (unipolar depression or bipolar). They may include:
- Auditory/visual/other hallucinations
- Presence of delusions
- Disorderly thoughts
- Depression
- State of high energy or mania
- Poor attention span
- Altered pattern of eating
- Negligence toward personal hygiene
- Inability to remain asleep
- The feeling of rest in solitude
How is it diagnosed?
In some cases, schizoaffective disorder vs schizophrenia can be challenging to diagnose because it encompasses distinct symptoms of schizophrenia and mood disorder. Two types of schizoaffective disorders exist:
- Depressive Type: In this category, individuals experience only episodes of major depression.
- Bipolar Type: This consists of manic episodes regardless of placid episode occurrences.
How is it treated?
Anyone who is going through this illness and showing symptoms should seek professional help. Management of schizoaffective disorder includes:
- Use of medications, for example, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications
- Psychotherapy (CBT and family-focused therapy)
- Self-education and self-management strategies
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder associated with a chronic illness that affects up to 1 percent of individuals within a global population level. This disorder includes a lack of distinction between what is real and what is fantasy. Generally, this is in the form of hallucinations or delusional perceptions mainly rooted within clinical settings.
Schizophrenia can impact an individual’s cognition, emotion, or even a person’s behavior. Moreover, it is common for those affected by the disorder to report feeling detached from the reality of day-to-day life.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear in the late teens to the early twenties. Primary symptoms can be:
- self-set isolation
- difficulty focusing one’s attention on a task
- changing of peers
- abnormal sleeping patterns
There are also “positive,” “negative,” and cognitive symptoms. These positive symptoms include psychopathological features usually absent in healthy individuals, including:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disruption in Thought Process
- Changes in the ability to control movement
- Inappropriate and unrelated speech and actions
Negative symptoms entail behavioral, emotional, and interpersonal change. These changes include the following:
- Speech that is poorly organized
- problems with controlling impulses
- Emotions that are inappropriate in a healthcare setting
- an absence of emotion
- withdrawal from social contact and relationships
- disinterest and motivation loss
- an absence of excitement
- difficulty with performing essential functions
Cognitive symptoms cannot be seen directly, but these symptoms are also associated with thinking and memory, such as:
- Difficulty with executive skills
- Failure to acquire new information and apply it effectively
- Failure to recognize their problem or their symptoms
How is it diagnosed?
One isn’t “Schizophrenic” from a single test. A combination of psychiatric evaluations and a complete physical evaluation may assist the doctor in reaching a decision. Your doctor will perform a physical examination to check for any body-related causative factor of the symptoms. They will also conduct a medical history, family history, and history of mental health and inquire about the growing symptoms.
A doctor may also listen to the patient to check whether any blood or imaging tests will assist the patient. They will probably ask you questions about any drug you are currently using, alcohol or other abuse drugs, any psychological disorders you have, etc. The diagnosis of schizophrenia requires the presence of two or more of the following symptoms, exceptionally functional impairment, for a minimum of 6 months:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Negative symptoms
- Cognitive issues or disorganized thinking
How is it treated?
You can seek professional help from any rehab to start your healing journey. The treatment of the schizoaffective disorder includes:
- Administration of other drugs, for instance, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotic medicines
- Psychotherapeutic strategies like CBT and family-focused therapy
- Self-education and self-management skills
Key Similarities and Differences Between Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia have distinct diagnostic features. However, they have overlapping features, as revealed by a 2014 study by the Trusted Source. These features are the following:
Similarities
- The presence of positive and negative symptoms
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Psychotic manifestations
Differences
Cited in a 2014 studyTrusted Source, the clear contrast between the two disorders is that schizoaffective disorder has the presence of a mood disorder alongside psychotic features. It is important to note that people with schizophrenia must also experience symptoms. However, there is no period of significant mood disturbance.
In general, it is not required to treat the mood disorder in schizophrenia. However, in treating schizoaffective disorder, it is the primary aim as well to treat the mood disorder accompanying this condition.
Living With the Condition
Dealing With Schizoaffective Disorder
An ordinary day is fraught with difficulties. Relationships, work, or any routine can become too much for the patients suffering from schizoaffective disorder.
However, the role of family members, friends, and mental health caregivers cannot be overridden. Be it seeking regular therapy sessions or sticking to medications prescribed, both have a sought-after impact.
Dealing With Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia does not spare any domain of life. The existing social stigma makes the tasks even harsher. Creating and having a support system aids the patients in coping with the obstacles. Maintaining a certain level of discipline structured towards small objectives enables the patients to remain consistent.
Final Thoughts
Schizoaffective disorder can somehow be compared to schizophrenia, but it bears a more significant relation to the mood component. If you or someone you care about has any suspicion of suffering from either schizoaffective disorder vs schizophrenia, it is also crucial to seek professional help. In this blog post, we provided every detail about these two disorders. We have discussed their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Moreover, we also discussed critical differences between these two disorders. I hope you get enough information regarding this illness.
