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Is There Any Difference Between Schizoaffective Disorder And Being Schizophrenic?

Posted on Wed, 1 Apr 2015

Question: Is schizoaffective disorder the same thing as being schizophrenic? I was given this diagnosis by a doctor who didn't really bother to explain it, and at first I thought that it wasn't as bad as being schizophrenic, but what I've read about it on the internet kind of makes it seem worse. I almost wish he'd just labeled me schizophrenic because I could understand that better, and explain it to other people like my family. No one in my family seems to think I have a real problem, they kind of ignore it as long as I function normally and don't inconvenience them, and I just want to be able to tell them what's really going on and have them believe me. I try so hard not to be "sick" that no one is willing to give me a break when I have problems, I don't want everyone to treat me like I'm weak but I wish they'd be more understanding. If I told them I was schizophrenic they'd recognize the label and maybe try to not to get so irritated at me when I do things they think are senseless and "indulgent", but when I say schizoaffective they're just like, what's that, bipolar? Well, get over it, half the world's bipolar, that's not an excuse. What do I tell them to make them understand without explaining specific symptoms? I would be horribly ashamed if they knew I had tactile hallucinations (I don't see or hear things that aren't there, but I often feel like my body isn't real or isn't mine, especially my hands, and I get weird out-of-body feelings a lot, and I also feel time slowing down sometimes but no one else notices). Also my doctor says I have a delusional belief system, which I don't think a doctor should be able to judge someone's spiritual beliefs as wrong just because they're different than theirs. I don't even know if any of that's really schizophrenic or not, that seems more like a religious issue to me, but even though I don't want to give up the truth just to fit in better, I still wish I didn't have to pretend so hard all the time. It's exhausting, but it might be better if I could explain to my family, because they get so mad at me sometimes. Is this a real problem, or am I just "refusing to grow up" like they say?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Schizoaffective is different than Schizophrenia

Detailed Answer:
Hello, thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. First of all I would like to tell you that Schizoaffective disorder is different disorder than Schizophrenia. But the disorder is also a psychotic disorder. The disorder is not bipolar disorder or mood disorder, so first thing you should explain to your family members is that this is not a mood or bipolar.

In Schizoaffective disorder patients show psychotic symptoms as well as prominent mood symptoms. Though it is not as severe as Schizophrenia but patient suffer significant impairment in day to day functioning. Treatment is needed for both psychotic and mood symptoms. Try to explain to your family members that this disorder is causing the abnormal behavioural and mood symptoms you are facing in day to day routine.

There is nothing like that you are refusing to grow up. The disorder occurs due to multi factorial causes like biochemical, genetic, environmental or psychological causes. But if proper treatment is taken improvement in most individuals occur in about a month.

The symptoms you have mentioned could occur due to derealisation like feeling that body is not real or not of you, but detailed evaluation is needed to confirm diagnosis. You haven't mentioned any symptoms that denote delusions so no need to worry.

Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar