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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Schizoaffective
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Schizoaffective
by Maria, May 08, 2000 12:00AM
I have been diagnosed with major depression with psychotic features for years and then finally bipolar. A couple of doctors wrote Schizoaffective as a possible diagnosis also but have always chosen to write major depression or bipolar because they weren't positive about schizoaffective.
I have had psychotic features off and on without being depressed or manic. Does that indicate that I am schizoaffective instead or just bipolar? It doesn't disturb me....I just want to know what is going on with me and deal with it. Also, can a person who is schizoaffective be highly functional? If you would please answer both of my questions, I would appreciate it. It is really important to me.
Thank you.
I have had psychotic features off and on without being depressed or manic. Does that indicate that I am schizoaffective instead or just bipolar? It doesn't disturb me....I just want to know what is going on with me and deal with it. Also, can a person who is schizoaffective be highly functional? If you would please answer both of my questions, I would appreciate it. It is really important to me.
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS-M.D-HG, May 09, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Maria
Schizoaffective disorder is a period of illness in which there is either a major depressive disorder or a manic episode or a mixed episode and during that period there need to be psychotic symptoms for atleast 2 weeks in the absence of prominent mood symptoms. A person with schizoaffective disorder can be highly functional, although the prognosis for schizoaffective disorder is usually limited when compared to major depressive disorder or Bipolar disorder which in turn have a good prognosis.A combination of medications and psychotherapy are beneficial in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D
Schizoaffective disorder is a period of illness in which there is either a major depressive disorder or a manic episode or a mixed episode and during that period there need to be psychotic symptoms for atleast 2 weeks in the absence of prominent mood symptoms. A person with schizoaffective disorder can be highly functional, although the prognosis for schizoaffective disorder is usually limited when compared to major depressive disorder or Bipolar disorder which in turn have a good prognosis.A combination of medications and psychotherapy are beneficial in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D
