I looked at a copy of my evaluation and medical records and I kept seeing this Schizoaffective disorder mentioned all over the place. Any one else diagnosed? It’s like a combination of symptoms from both sides schizophrenia & bi polar.
Anyone else can shed some light on how they are doing, coping, working, any insight. I’m feeling very lonely in this.
Hey! I’m diagnosed schizoaffective depressive type, so I don’t get the manic episodes. I’ve finally got my medications figured out and I’m doing really well 
Oh don’t feel lonely, I was diagnosed with the same thing. I’m better on meds totally. It’s not easy but people here are there for you.
I’m on Abilify injections 400mg monthly and lithium 300mg 3 x day. So far so good.
I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and I’ve been stable on my meds for a long time now.
I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder bipolar type a few times in the past.
Sometimes it’s similar to bipolar disorder and sometimes it’s closer to schizophrenia.
My current diagnosis is bipolar disorder.
IMO it’s basically the same thing.
Yes that’s how I work. It can be sliding scale.
I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type . I’m on amisulpride and haloperidol, as well as lamotrigine and citalopram. My depressions are much more severe and longer than my manias but I do get hypomania as well, hence the mood stabilizer. Sometimes I get psychosis even without mood problems, so that means I am schizoaffective, not bipolar
I really appreciate everyone’s comments. I’m feeling less isolated.
Sza here. Quasall
My diagnosis was changed from Schizophrenia to Schizoaffective Disorder a year ago. You are definitely not alone.
I am only prescribed Rexulti after being taken off Lithium due to side effects. I cope quite well with a Support Worker getting me out and about in the community and having regular psychology appointments.
I was thought to have schizophrenia at 26. But since then my diagnosis has changed. Its now almost a decade on and i’ve been told I have Bipolar now. Though they have also thought schizoaffective in the past. Now I’m said to have Autism and PTSD too. So I don’t know. The Dr also said not to worry about diagnosis. That they only really look at symptoms as they appear and medicate accordingly.
My latest and longest diagnosis has been schizoaffective, bipolar type (since 1992, or for the last 30 years).
My pdoc told me that although bipolar and sza can both present with psychotic symptoms, with each it’s a matter of timing and degree.
With sza, the psychosis can present in the absence of mood symptoms. With bipolar it never does.
So with bipolar, the psychosis is ALWAYS caused by the mood disorder. Not necessarily so with sza.
Also, the psychosis in each is a matter of degree. The psychosis in sza is more severe and persistent than with bipolar.
So, there are definite differences between the two.
@anon2818416 @roxanna @Sarah @Turtle44 @anon21849028 @Wave @Nimbus @Summer2
I guess i’m still confused as to how one disorder can be more severe than another or persistent. When both bipolar and schizophrenia can be chronic. Also my longest hospitalisation was 2 years and four months which was like prison. Also not trying to trigger but trying to take your life alot because your in so much mental agony/torture is kind of indicative of severity. In both disorders. Ive been given all three diagnosis and from what ive witnessed during alot of hospitalisations are all kinds of severity which was quite traumatic to witness and experience. Don’t mean to sound like i have a bee in a cap. But just I don’t get the distinctions at times. I have found it incredibly tragic though watching and being friends with people with schizophrenia or BPD but being unable to help. Either because theyre unable to stop screaming at walls shouting at their voices or actively trying to attempt suicide on locked down wards. And extremely clever beautiful people too. I have all sorts of admiration that runs deep for people with MI. Even though I sometimes experience alot of shame myself.
Youre not alone dont worry many many people here have schizoaffective disorder as well. I have it and also aspergers.
Im so sorry to hear that you were kept for such a long time oh man yhat sounds terrible. You must be an extremly strong person becuase my longest time in a hospital was maybe 2 months and it was literal torture. Im so sorry ti hear that you went through this. God bless you. Youre going to be rewarded for all the pain you went through
Thanks so much for saying that. It was incredibly painful. I saw also things that were really hard to witness. Without going into it. Thanks.
I know exactly what you mean oh man. I remember nights of other patients yelling at the top of their lungs and making so much noise. The nurses were honestly pretty mean, i was literally starving all the time, bored out of my mind. I honestly dont even know if i could have been in there for 2 years, thats literally the worst i feel your pain and you did it for like over 10 times longet than i was able to bear. It should be illegal.
I hope youre able to get over the trauma that must have caused you having your freeedom taken away like that. God bless you.
Thanks that really means alot to me. I have had one Dr apologise to me. But she left shortly afterwards. Once I’d gotten out I mean.
@Nimbus : I am in no way, shape or form trying or even suggesting to minimize your suffering and I so apologize if I sound like I am.
I too have been diagnosed with sz, bipolar and sza, plus just about every other diagnosis in the DSM to boot so, I’m with you.
I also know what it’s like to spend a lifetime in a mental hospital. Not in a long single stay, but as repeated, revolving door stays over many years. And most of these in dungeon like county hospitals. I feel your pain.
No one mental illness is worse, or more “severe” than another. Everyone’s individual case is different. One person’s suicidal bipolar can be more serious and severe than another person’s sz grandiosity. You just can’t generalize.