Schizoaffective disorder can be difficult to manage, but it is treatable. This condition is lifelong, so being diagnosed may be discouraging and distressing. But know that
recovery, even long-term remission, is possible
.
What is the life expectancy of someone with schizoaffective disorder?
| Diagnosis Male Female | Life Expectancy (95% CI, number of deaths) Difference from female UK population * | Schizoaffective disorder (F25) ∧ 69.4 (68.3–70.5, n = 16) −17.5 | Bipolar affective disorder (F31) ∧ 67.3 (66.1–68.5, n = 43) −11.2 | Substance use disorders (F10–F19) ∧ 63.9 (62.7–65.0, n = 254) −14.8 |
|---|
Is schizoaffective disorder serious?
Schizoaffective disorder is
a serious mental health condition
. It has features of both schizophrenia and a mood (affective) disorder. Schizoaffective symptoms may include symptoms of mania, depression and psychosis. It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Does schizoaffective disorder get worse over time?
The Outlook for Schizoaffective Disorder
Symptoms
can be more and less severe over time
, and many will have periods with no symptoms alternating with more serious and disabling episodes. This is considered to be a lifelong, chronic condition with no cure.
Can a person with schizoaffective disorder lead a normal life?
With schizoaffective disorder, as with other major psychiatric illnesses, individuals
can work to achieve their goals and live very full lives
.
What triggers schizoaffective disorder?
Stressful events such as a death in the family, end of a marriage or loss of a job can trigger symptoms or an onset of the illness. Drug use.
Psychoactive drugs such as LSD
have been linked to the development of schizoaffective disorder.
Is schizoaffective disorder a disability?
Schizoaffective disorder is
a severe mental health condition
that can qualify for Social Security disability (SSDI or SSI) benefits. Schizoaffective disorder is a serious mental illness characterized psychosis (loss of touch with reality) and severe mood problems.
What does schizoaffective disorder look like?
Schizophrenia. Schizoaffective disorder has the features of schizophrenia,
like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking
, along with those of a mood disorder, like mania and depression. At first, it’s often misdiagnosed as one of the two.
What is the best medicine for schizoaffective disorder?
Antipsychotics. The only medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder is
the antipsychotic drug paliperidone (Invega)
. However, doctors may prescribe other antipsychotic drugs to help manage psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
At what age does schizoaffective disorder develop?
Who gets schizoaffective disorder? The condition usually begins in
the late teens or early adulthood, up to age 30
. It rarely occurs in children. Studies suggest the disorder is more likely to occur in women than men.
Is it hard to live with schizoaffective disorder?
The lives of people with schizoaffective disorder are
marked by uncertainty, unpredictability, and stress
, and the longer they go without receiving medical assistance the more likely they are to experience significant personal, professional, and health-related hardships.
How do I talk to someone with schizoaffective disorder?
- Be careful about too much prodding. Try not to overdo reminders to an adult friend or family member about things like taking medicines. …
- Be patient, listen well, and speak encouraging words.
- Be available if your loved one wants to talk. Make an effort to acknowledge his or her feelings.
Can a person with schizoaffective disorder drive?
Yet, there is limited information about potential fitness to drive of people who have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (Brunnauer et al., 2016). Today,
there is no standardized process for assessing ability to drive among people with schizophrenia
.
How do you beat schizoaffective disorder?
- #1 Carefully Monitor Medication Use and Its Effects. …
- #2 Exercise Regularly and Follow a Nutritious Diet Plan. …
- #3 Avoid Isolation. …
- #4 Get Plenty of Sleep.
Can you work if you have schizoaffective disorder?
If you have schizoaffective
disorder, employment may not be possible
. Even with proper care and treatment, your symptoms may become more pronounced at times.
How can you tell the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder?
In schizophrenia, mood symptoms are
not expected
to occur without psychotic symptoms. The psychotic symptoms are almost always present, but the mood symptoms come and go. In schizoaffective disorder, the psychotic symptoms may or may not be present during the times when a person is experiencing depression or mania.
