Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective Disorder is a variant of schizophrenia
Clinical Definition
Schizoaffective disorder is a condition in which a person experiences a combination of schizophrenia symptoms — such as hallucinations or delusions — and mood disorder symptoms, such as mania or depression.
Causes
Some causes are genetic links, brain chemistry, brain development delays, exposure to toxins or viral illness in the womb, stress, and poor social interactions. Children who suffer from bullying, abuse, or parental death are more likely to get this disorder.
Symptoms
This disorder changes appetite and energy levels, disorganized, speech that isn't logical, delusions, paranoia, delusion of reference (thinking that special messages are hidden in in common places for you), sleeping problems, concentrating problems, and social isolation.
Characteristics
The characteristics of Schizoaffective disorder are paranoid thought, delusions, hallucinations, confusion, disorganized thoughts, speaking too quickly, depression or irritability, and hyperactive or manic mood.
Treatment
Psychotherapy, counseling, and family or group therapy is used to treat Schizoaffective Disorder.
Medication
Doctors prescribe medication to relieve psychotic symptoms, to stabilize their mood and treat depression. the only medication approved by the FDA is specifically for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder is the antipsychotic drug paliperidone (Invega).Also combinations of antidepressants (eg, sertraline or fluoxetine) plus an antipsychotic (eg,haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, or ziprasidone) are used
Invega
INVEGA® (paliperidone) extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder as monotherapy and as an adjunct to mood stabilizers and/or antidepressant therapy in adults. The efficacy of INVEGA® in schizoaffective disorder was established in two 6-week trials in adults.
Haldol
Haldol is an antipsychotic. It may increase the risk of death when used to treat mental problems caused by dementia in elderly patients. Most of the deaths were linked to heart problems or infection. Haldol is not approved to treat mental problems caused by dementia
Geodon
Geodon (ziprasidone) is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain. Geodon is used to treat schizophrenia and the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression) in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
Fun Facts
The two types of Schizoaffective Disorder are bipolar and depressive. The bipolar type is characterized by the illness including at least one maniac episode. The depressive type is made up of this illness involving one major depressive episode.
Jonny Benjamin's Story- Schizoaffective disorder
Ciations
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizoaffective-disorder/basics/definition/con-20029221
http://www.drugs.com/geodon.html
http://www.janssencns.com/invegasustenna/
http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/mental-health-schizoaffective-disorder
http://www.healthline.com/health/schizoaffective-disorder
Moe, Mental Health, New York, Rosen Publishing Group, 2001. Moe, Barbara, Mental Illness