They also stated that it may be possible that some affective disorders with psychotic symptoms could be a genetic variant of schizophrenia. The literature as well as our three studies gives evidence that affective disorder and schizophrenia can occur in the families of either of the illnesses. Schizoaffective Disorder Schizoaffective disorder tends to fall, obviously, between schizophrenia and affective disorder. Right from the conception of the term 'schizoaffective disorder', it has been at the centre of controversy. It is now recognised as a separate entity.
Schizoaffective disorder forms a very good bridge between schizophrenia and affective disorder.
Logically, if it is a bridge for the main disorders then perhaps it also forms a bridge in the families of both the disorders. If the Kraeplinian dichotomy is valid then intermediate forms of psychosis, such as, schizoaffective psychosis should be rare. This unclear separation of schizoaffective disorders and their considerable prevalence makes the case for Kraeplinian dichotomy questionable. It cannot be denied that schizophrenia and affective disorders appear to be two different disorders, and that there is overlap. This review suggests that the Kraeplinian dichotomy seems to be based on shaky ground, although there are still several studies which support the dichotomy.