Schizoaffective Disorder: The Psychopathology Definition Schizoaffective Disorder (SAD) is characterized by schizophrenic behaviors, such as hallucinations and delusions, as well as mood disorders like depression or mania (Townsend, 2014). The disorder is not as well defined or understood as many other psychological conditions, this is largely because of the unpredictable nature of the disorder. Each person affected has their own unique course of how the disorder will display, including unpredictable
The term schizoaffective was started to describe the co-occurrence of both psychotic and affective symptoms. Schizophrenia technically did not exist until around 100 years ago. Until then most people thought it was demons in the person’s body. The Ancient Egyptians thought people with mental illness had a bad physical illness. Overtime, the diagnosis schizoaffective disorder was added to diagnostic manuals. These patients can be very suspicious of others and often have grand schemes of persecution
Schizoaffective disorder (abbreviated as SZA or SAD) is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal thought processes and deregulated emotions. The diagnosis is made when the patient has features of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, either bipolar disorder or depression, but does not strictly meet diagnostic criteria for either alone. The bipolar type is distinguished by symptoms of mania, hypomania, or mixed episode; the depressive type by symptoms of depression only. Common symptoms of
Dee Fleming, as do many Americans, has someone in her immediate family who suffers from a mental disorder. Her son is mentally ill with schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective disorder causes a person to lose their sense of reality and also causes severe mood changes. Throughout his life, her son has had multiple mental breakdowns. He would often leave the house during his intense mood swings, lose sense of reality, and then suddenly reappear a day or two later with visible injuries (Brown). One
In order to be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder one must meet specific criteria that the DSM-5 clearly outlines. In order to be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder one must meet a number of negative and positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia, these negative symptoms include: false beliefs that are not based in reality, alteration in sensory perceptions, alteration in thought processes, abnormal motor behavior, and a range of symptoms that reduce the person’s ability to function
Schizoaffective disorder, often abbreviated as SZA or SAD, is a mental disorder portrayed by unusual thought processes and emotions and is defined by mood disorder-free psychosis in the context of a long-term psychotic and mood disorder (Schizoaffective Disorder, 2014b). The diagnosis is made when the individual has characteristics of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, either bipolar disorder or depression, but does not meet diagnostic criteria for either alone (Schizoaffective Disorder, 2015d)
History: Tanya’s mother is an African American female who suffers from an extensive history of psychiatric illness and is currently incarcerated. She never had a relationship with his father. The client’s brother has a history of bipolar disorder. There are no other known maternal relatives that struggle with mental illness or addiction. Tanya reports that she was born full-term via spontaneous vaginal delivery. She reports being pregnant two times. She reports having a miscarriage
What is Schizoaffective Disorder? : Schizoaffective disorder is a disorder that is exhibited similarly to schizophrenia and mood disorders. Schizoaffective disorders characteristics consist of both auditory and visual hallucinations, delusions, mania, and depression. According to Pagel, “This seems all the more plausible because SAD (schizoaffective disorder), by definition, is characterized by criteria of two disorders (Pagel, 2014, p.239).” Many people have difficulty understanding the differences
colorado at Boulder Case Study Susannah Cahalan, a 24 year old, healthy and successful journalist for the New York post, experienced an acute onset of psychosis. Symptoms ranged from paranoia to seizures, which eventually led to a catatonic state. The onset of the female’s symptoms occurred when she became paranoid of a bed bug infestation in her home, yet after having her home exterminated there was no indication of bedbugs. Concern arose from her nonexistent appetite
CASE VIGNETTE Presenting Problem: Tanya is a 21-year-old African American female who was referred by Southern Psychiatric Unit after she called 911 as a result of beings annoyed with her family and co-workers. She complained that her employer puts her in places to do paperwork and not giving her 70 hours a week. They were cutting her hours from 10 to 6 a day. She reported that she was feeling suicidal when she called 911. Prior to calling 911, Tanya reported that her baby father Derrick is