1. Diagnosis By
Exclusion:
“Schizoaffective
Disorder”
By: Liz Wolf

2. Schizoaffective
Disorder Criteria:
 A.) Uninterrupted period of illness
during which there is a major
mood episode concurrent with
criterion A of schizophrenia
 B.) Delusions or hallucinations for
2 weeks or more in absence of a
major mood episode, during the
lifetime duration of the illness
 C.) Symptoms that meet criteria
for a major mood episode are
present for the majority of the
total duration of the active and
residual portions of the illness
 D.) The disturbance is not
attributable to the effects of a
substance or another medical
condition
 295.70- (F25.0) Bipolar type
 295.70- (F25.1) Depressive
type

4. Schizophrenia & schizoaffective disorder
- Mental Heath Videos with Kati Morton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6gqILp8NaQ
(copy and paste link to watch youtube video about
schizoaffective disorder)

5. Without definitive
empirical evidence
how do physicians
know how to treat
patients with
schizoaffective
disorder?

7. What medications
have been found
effective for SAD?
 There are very few medications approved
for use specifically in schizoaffective
disorderOlanzapine might be somewhat
superior to other atypical antipsychotics;
Mood stabilizers can be added to
antipsychotic medication for manic or mixed
symptoms associated with the illness, and
antidepressants can be added to
antipsychotic medication for depression
symptoms associated with the illness.
Antidepressants should be prescribed
conservatively, mostly during the course of
a depressive episode, in order to avoid a
precipitation of a manic or mixed episode.
Lithium, carbamazepine, divalproex
sodium, or lamotrigine can be used to
control mood swings.
 Along with prescription medications therapy
is an essential component.