Schizoaffective Disorder

Question 1

How would you describe schizoaffective disorder

Answer 1

Schizoaffective disorder is a condition where symptoms of psychotic and mood disorders are prominent at the same time, or within a two week period of each other, during one episode/the same episode of illness

Question 2

When would you not make a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder?

Answer 2

If the patient already has a diagnosis of an affective disorder.

The schizophrenic symptoms should clearly predates the fact of disturbance when Making this diagnosis

Question 3

Describe the epidemiology of schizoaffective disorder

Answer 3

– 0.5 to 0.8% of the population
– females more than males
– less common in schizophrenia

Question 4

Name the three subtypes of schizoaffective disorder.

Also name is subtypes which have been expressed by ICD – 10

Answer 4

Manic type
Depressive type
Mixed to type

According to ICD – 10 that is the bipolar type (Manic/mixed episodes)and the depressive type (Mainly depressive episodes)

Question 5

According to ICD – 10 how long should schizo affective symptoms be present for for a diagnosis?

Answer 5

Schizoaffective ineffective symptoms should both be present and in equal proportions and last for at least one month

Question 6

Name some signs of depressive schizoaffective disorder

Answer 6

Low mood , anhedonia, weight loss, Appetite to change, insomnia, hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, fatigue, guilt, worthlessness, decreased concentration, recurrent thoughts of death and suicidal nations

Question 7

Name some symptoms of mania

Answer 7

Inflated self-esteem, less sleep, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, racing thoughts, easily distracted, increase in goal directed activity, excessive involvement in high risk activities

Question 8

Name some signs of schizophrenia

Answer 8

Hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, thoughts echocardiogram, thought withdrawal, thought insertion, thought broadcast, perceptional delusions

Question 9

What a cute investigations would you want to do in a patient who is presenting with a possible schizoaffective disorder?

Answer 9

– Baseline bloods: full blood count, renal and liver function tests, thyroid function test, HIV test
– urine or plasma toxicology
– chest x-ray to exclude pneumonia and elderly
– other imaging if clinically indicated

Question 10

Outline the biological treatment of schizoaffective disorder

Answer 10

In an acute exacerbation: Antipsychotics

Long-term treatment: antipsychotics

If depressive symptoms present: Antipsychotics and antidepressants and occasionally ECT

If manic symptoms present: antipsychotics and mood stabilisers (lithium/Sodium Valproate)

Question 11

Names of psychosocial treatments which can be used to treat schizoaffective disorder

Answer 11

– CBT
– family meetings
– self-help groups
– counselling
– art therapy

Question 12

Is the prognosis for schizoaffective disorder better or worse than schizophrenia? Is it better or worse than having an affective disorder alone?

Answer 12

The prognosis is better than schizophrenia however it is worse than having a mood disorder alone