Distinguishing Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

What is mental illness? “A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feelings, or mood.” (“Mental Health Conditions,” 2016) Mental illness can affect anybody. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are two mental illnesses that most people think are the same thing. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder do have similarities, but they also have differences. Schizoaffective disorder is different from schizophrenia because schizoaffective disorder is made up of more than one mental illness; whereas schizophrenia is not.

What is schizophrenia? “Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder that involves severely distorted beliefs, perceptions, and thought processes.” (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2014) Schizophrenia is a

The causes of schizoaffective disorder are very similar to that of schizophrenia. It is not really known what actually causes this mental illness, but like schizophrenia, people think that the causes of schizoaffective disorder have something to do with genetics, and brain chemistry. There are risk factors for schizoaffective disorder too. Per the Mayo Clinic Staff (2016), these risk factors include having a close blood relative who has schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, stressful events that trigger symptoms, and taking mind – altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs. One resident that I work with does not have a good relationship with their family. This resident’s family barely comes to see

The treatment for schizoaffective disorder is similar to that of schizophrenia. It is similar in the way that they use medications to help treat the symptoms of the schizoaffective disorder disease. There is also a psychotherapy option as well. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (2016), the type of medications that can be used include mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications and antidepressants and psychotherapy is a cognitive behavioral therapy or family – focused therapy that is used as well. People with schizoaffective disorder can successfully live out on their own in their communities with the support of their families and