Diagnostic Criteria: Schizoaffective Disorder

1 Diagnostic Criteria: Schizoaffective Disorder Schizoaffective disorder is a rare psychotic condition related to major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. It is a major mood episode typified by distorted thinking, delusions, hallucinations, and other depressive symptoms that occur uninterrupted for a significant period.

The presence of symptoms from divergent conditions complicates the diagnosis and treatment of schizoaffective patients. The prevalence of schizoaffective disorder is lower than schizophrenia.

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2 Clinicians diagnose schizoaffective disorder if a client presents with mood disorder symptoms and satisfies the primary criteria for schizophrenia. However, the presenting symptoms in this condition do not satisfy the criteria for diagnosis of either depression or bipolar disorder (Werner & Covenas (2016). The DSM-5 Criteria identify the requirements for one to be diagnosed with this condition. Criterion A for schizophrenia indicates that the client must present with two or more symptoms including hallucination, delusions, disorganized speech, negative symptoms and grossly disorganized behavior (Wy & Saadabadi, 2021). The disorganized speech is incoherent and easily derailed. The negative symptoms present in this condition are avolition and flat affect. The major mood episode, hallucinations and delusions in schizoaffective disorder are not associated with substance use. To be diagnosed with a mood disorder, the client must present with loss of pleasure, sadness, and decreased energy.

The primary criteria for diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, which separates it from other mood-related disorders, is the presence of psychotic symptoms lasting for over two weeks without presenting with mood symptoms. Werner and Covenas (2016) noted that schizoaffective disorder mostly resembles schizophrenia since while the mood episodes come and go psychotic symptoms are persistent.

3 References Werner, F. M., & Covenas, R. (2016). Classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in schizoaffective disorder: Focus on prophylactic medication. Bentham Science Publishers.

Wy, T. J., & Saadabadi, A. (2021). Schizoaffective disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541012/