Schizoaffective disorder vs mood disorder with psychotic features

Schizoaffective disorder is a severe psychiatric disorder that shares similarities to schizophrenia. The disorder has the potential to affect all aspects of life, which include social relationships, work, and self-care skills. Those struggling with the condition may have various symptoms, including unusual hallucinations, beliefs others don’t share, severe mood swings, low motivation, poor attention, and an inability to experience pleasure.

The severe nature of schizoaffective disorder requires someone to go to a hospital and get immediate care. Some people have described the experience as dreaming while awake, and you may not be able to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality.

About one in every two hundred people will develop schizoaffective disorder at some point in their life. It is one of the most common severe psychiatric disorders, and individuals occupy more hospital beds with schizophrenia and schizoaffective than any other mental condition.

Bipolar disorder, however, is a much more common mental illness that will cause dramatic shifts in someone’s mood, energy, and affect how they think. Those struggling with bipolar will experience highs and lows, which are known as depression and mania. These differ from the standard ups and downs we deal with in life.

The average age that someone will develop bipolar is 25, but it can also occur in teens. In some rare cases, children can develop the condition. It affects men and women equally; 2.8 percent of U.S. adults experience bipolar each year, and approximately 83 percent of bipolar cases are classified as severe.

If bipolar is left untreated, the symptoms will gradually worsen. With a proper treatment plan that includes medication, psychotherapy, and a healthy lifestyle, many people are able to resume normal functions in their lives. The symptoms, however, can vary in severity. Some people may wonder, however, how these two conditions differ. Let’s take a look at what schizoaffective and bipolar disorder consist of and their symptoms.

What Is Schizoaffective Disorder?

Schizoaffective disorder vs mood disorder with psychotic features

Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic condition that is similar to schizophrenia, which consists of symptoms like delusions or hallucinations. Many of those struggling with this disorder will be misdiagnosed with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Schizoaffective disorder information is not readily available like bipolar or schizophrenia, and many of the treatment approaches are borrowed from other conditions.

Schizoaffective disorder can only be diagnosed in a clinical interview. The interview intends to determine whether the individual has specific symptoms consistent with the disorder and if the symptoms have been present long enough to merit a diagnosis. The physician making the determination must also check to make sure the individual is not experiencing physical problems that may cause symptoms similar to schizoaffective disorder, such as brain tumors or substance abuse.

Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder include:

  • Delusions
  • Hallucinations
  • Thinking disturbances
  • Apathy
  • Inability to experience pleasure
  • Interruptions in speech
  • Inattention

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is sometimes referred to as manic-depressive disorder, and it is characterized by dramatic shifts in energy, mood, and activity levels that will cause problems in carrying out daily tasks. The shifts in energy and mood can be severe. Someone with bipolar disorder may have distinct depressed or manic states but can have extended periods without symptoms.

Severe episodes of depression or manic can include psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations – this is why it can be difficult to make a diagnosis between schizoaffective and bipolar on some occasions. The symptoms are similar in severe cases of bipolar disorder, and it is common for misdiagnosis.

There are four types of bipolar disorder, and these include:

  • Bipolar I Disorder
  • Bipolar II Disorder
  • Cyclothymic Disorder or Cyclothymia
  • Bipolar Disorder, “other specified” and “unspecified”

How Do Schizoaffective Disorder And Bipolar Disorder Differ?

Physicians have a difficult time diagnosing schizoaffective disorder, and it’s a common mistake to believe someone is struggling with bipolar as opposed to the other condition. Bipolar disorder consists of similar symptoms, which include episodes of depression and mania. Someone with schizoaffective disorder will experience psychosis, such as delusions and hallucinations. Due to the overlap in symptoms, achieving the proper diagnosis requires a thorough examination.

An individual can have both schizoaffective and bipolar disorder, which can further complicate the diagnosis. The overlapping symptoms include:

  • Psychotic episodes: In some cases of bipolar disorder, hallucinations and delusions can arise during severe episodes of depression or mania
  • Disorganized thinking: This is common in schizoaffective disorder, but someone struggling with bipolar will have disorganized thoughts during an episode of mania.
  • Symptoms of depression: During extended periods of depression, someone with either condition may demonstrate a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. For some, they cannot experience pleasure, will have trouble concentrating, and cannot make decisions.

There are reports that highlight high rates of alcohol and drug misuse among those with either condition. When someone has a significant symptom overlap, they will receive a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.

What is the difference between schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia?

The difference between these two is which symptoms are the primary set. In schizoaffective, mood symptoms are only present when typical symptoms of schizophrenia are present, although schizophrenia symptoms may be present without mood symptoms. In mood disorder with psychotic features, mood symptoms are primary.

What are the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder?

Schizoaffective Disorder Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition in which a person experiences psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, or flat affect, along with symptoms of a mood disorder, such as depression and/or mania. 5  There are two types of schizoaffective disorder:

What is the difference between psychotic symptoms and mood symptoms?

In mood disorder with psychotic features, mood symptoms are primary. To my knowledge there isn't so much an emphasis on psychotic symptoms only being present during mood symptoms, but typically this is diagnosed when mood symptoms become so severe over time that a person becomes psychotic (either during a depressive or manic episode).

Do schizophrenia and mood disorders separate?

We provide evidence that, clinically, mood disorders and schizophrenia do not separate neatly. We will also review data arising from studies in brain imaging, molecular neurobiology, and genetics.

What are mood disorders psychotic features?

Schizoaffective disorder symptoms may vary from person to person. People with the condition experience psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, as well as symptoms of a mood disorder — either bipolar type (episodes of mania and sometimes depression) or depressive type (episodes of depression).

What can schizoaffective disorder be confused with?

Because schizoaffective disorder combines symptoms that reflect two mental illnesses, it's easily confused with other psychotic or mood disorders. Some doctors may diagnose schizophrenia. Others may think it's a mood disorder. As a result, it's hard to know how many people actually have schizoaffective disorder.

How can you tell the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder?

If you have schizophrenia, you may hear voices that aren't real and see things that don't exist. Schizoaffective disorder is a condition that can make you feel detached from reality and can affect your mood. These two disorders have some things in common.