(bright music) - [Amanda] Hi, Psycho2Goers. So we know you've heard of schizophrenia, but have you ever heard of
schizoaffective disorder? or have you ever met anyone who lives with schizoaffective disorder? It's not surprising if
you haven't heard of it As the National Alliance
on Mental Illness, NAMI, reports on only 0.3% of the US population, or 981,600 people, will get it during their lifetimes. Before we begin, it's important to know that we're covering a mental illness that can cause serious consequences in the lives of the people affected by it. This means we'll briefly
discuss depression and suicide, which may be triggering to some viewers. With that said, let's begin. What is schizoaffective disorder the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual V, DSM-V, classify schizoaffective disorder as a psychotic disorder with features of a mood disorder. This means in addition to the classic symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions, a person who has schizoaffective disorder will also have symptoms of major depressive
disorder, bipolar disorder, persistent depressive
disorder, cyclothymia, or seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Although the National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI, reported 50% of people
diagnosed with schizophrenia also struggle with some
form of depression, a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder means the person being
diagnosed also experiences at least one of the following. Hallucinations and delusions not caused by drugs or a medical condition for two or more weeks when they're not experiencing
depression or mania. Mood disorder symptoms, usually depression or mania, for the majority of time when they are experiencing psychosis. Serious, disorganized,
and catatonic behavior that isn't caused by drugs
or a medical condition. And negative symptoms, which are reduced emotional expression, or a lack of interest in
reaching normal goals. So what's there to know about living with
schizoaffective disorder? One, there are three phases of psychosis. Psychosis or an impaired
relationship with reality that involves hallucinations, delusions, loss of motivation, and social withdrawal. Phase one, prodrome. These are the early signs of psychosis. When someone is going
through the prodrome phase, their life may start to feel a little uncomfortable or very disrupted because this is the phase when they'll start to experience flashes of paranoia,
problems concentrating, depression, insomnia, anxiety. And when they'll start pulling away from family and friends. Phase two, acute. At this stage, the person
with schizoaffective disorder will experience the most
disruptive hallucinations, distressing delusions,
and confused thinking. The person suffering with
schizoaffective disorder will feel completely removed from reality during the acute phase, which might look like a
total fixation on religion, thinking others are out to get them, having voices tell them
they're rotten people, talking to people or
spirits that aren't there, or thinking angels or
demons are calling to them. They're most likely to feel hopeless or isolated from the ones they love during this stage. And phase three, recovery. This final stage is when
the person struggling with schizoaffective
disorder actually starts to see the light at the end of the tunnel. With the proper
intervention and treatment, many people who have a psychotic break may never have another psychotic episode in their lives. How having symptoms of a mood disorder impacts living with psychosis. When you suffer from psychosis, and it can feel like your
head is in a haunted house and you're trapped inside with dozens of unpredictable ghosts, most schizoaffective disorders different from other psychotic disorders because it means the
individual living with it also has the symptoms of a mood disorder. How does that change things? The National Institute of Health, NIH, reports that schizoaffective disorder creates extreme shifts in
behavior, mood, and energy. What type of shifts depends on which of the two types of
schizoaffective disorders the person has been diagnosed with, bipolar and depressive. Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type presents with manic episodes
and depressive episodes. Someone living with this type of schizoaffective disorder will experience dramatic highs, or mania, as well as episodes of deep depression. Signs of mania include increased energy or hyperactivity, irritability, increased grandeur, insomnia, and reckless behavior. This might present as snapping at others, being unable to sit still, believing one is a
supernatural figure or famous, and spending money that they don't have. During a manic phase, the person suffering is more vulnerable to delusion and reckless behavior, which intensifies the
effects of psychosis. Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type presents as psychosis
with depressive episodes, but no mania. The depressive episodes often present as feelings of hopelessness, decreased ability to function, low energy, problems concentrating, and possibly decreased hygiene. The added challenge of
mood disorder symptoms makes individuals living with either type of
schizoaffective disorder more vulnerable to isolation due to pushing others away with their mood swings
and deep depression. This also means they're more vulnerable to substance abuse and suicidal thoughts than the rest of the population. How living with schizoaffective disorder affects your daily life. According to the Department
of Veterans Affairs, the negative behavioral symptoms of schizoaffective disorder such as feelings of apathy; feeling little or no
pleasure in doing anything, also known as anhedonia; or seeming to not react to
things in their environment, also known as blunted effect; or difficulty paying attention create the most dramatic effects on the person diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder's life. For example, a girlfriend of someone with schizoaffective disorder may feel hurt or confused when her partner doesn't
react with excitement when they tell them about
a recent promotion at work or the boss of someone with
schizoaffective disorder might get frustrated with their employee for their constant tardiness
or disorganization. Although the person struggling with schizoaffective disorder probably wants to be part
of a healthy relationship and most likely wants to be productive, sometimes their symptoms
make this impossible. This can lead to increase feelings of not feeling good enough, loneliness, and social isolation. These feelings can ultimately make depressive episodes worse. Living with schizoaffective disorder can be frustrating and challenging. Thankfully, many people have successfully managed the symptoms of
this somewhat rare disorder. The NCBI reported most people who successfully manage their
schizoaffective symptoms typically use a combination of life skills trainings,
therapy, and medications. Did you find this video insightful? If so, feel free to share it with someone who would too. As always, any information provided here is for educational purposes only. If you need mental health
counseling or treatment, please reach out to a
mental health professional. Keep watching Psych2Go channel for more information on mental
illness and mental health. Thanks for watching.
