Schizoaffective disorder is a distinct mental health disorder that shares some features with both schizophrenia and mood disorders. It is not considered a subtype of schizophrenia.
Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by a combination of psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations or delusions) and mood disorder symptoms (such as depression or mania). These mood disorder symptoms occur for a significant portion of the illness and are present even when the psychotic symptoms are not active. The disorder can be further categorized into two main types: bipolar type and depressive type, depending on whether manic or depressive episodes are present.
In contrast, schizophrenia is a separate mental disorder characterized by specific symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and negative symptoms (e.g., social withdrawal, reduced emotional expression).
While schizoaffective disorder shares some similarities with both schizophrenia and mood disorders, it is considered a distinct diagnosis and is listed as such in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The differentiation between these disorders is important for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.