NAMInet The NAMInet is a tremendous resource exclusively for our grassroots leadership.
Some psychiatric disorders are very difficult to diagnose accurately.
One of the most confusing conditions is schizoaffective disorder. Some people may have symptoms of both a depressive disorder and schizophrenia at the same time, or they may have symptoms of schizophrenia without mood symptoms. Many individuals with schizoaffective disorder are originally diagnosed with manic depression. Someone who experiences psychosis for three or four weeks while in a manic phase does not have schizoaffective disorder. However, if delusions or hallucinations continue after the mood has stabilized and are accompanied by other symptoms of schizophrenia such as catatonia, paranoia, bizarre behavior, or thought disorders, a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder may be appropriate.