Difference Between Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective

Schizophrenia vs Schizoaffective

With different kinds of disorders we humans are experiencing, psychiatric mental disorders are one of the most interesting subjects humans can dwell upon and study. Some psychiatric disorders have different causes and theories to explain them.

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders might be affecting only a small percentage of the population, but it is a disorder which can affect families due to the shame it may bring and what the people will be saying once they found out that a relative or a person close to them is crazy. But that does not matter.

Schizophrenia is a thought process disorder. It comes from the Greek word “schizein” meaning “to split” and “phren” meaning “mind.” The word came from Eugene Bleuler in 1908. He coined this word to describe splitting of the mind’s thinking, memory, personality, and perception. The signs and symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, disorganized speech, and disorganized thinking. The layman’s term for schizophrenia is “being crazy.”

Schizoaffective disorder, on the other hand, is another mental illness that has similar signs and symptoms to schizophrenia. It was first noted by Jacob Kasanin, an American psychiatrist, in 1933. Besides having the same manifestations as schizophrenic patients, they also have similar attributes as bipolar patients because they have elevated and depressed moods. Lastly, they are also compared to autistic children and people with schizotypal personality disorder because they manifest social isolation, odd behavior, and unconventional thinking.

Schizophrenia is diagnosed based on the DSM criteria that is used by psychiatrists to confirm the diagnosis of the patients. There is no cure for schizophrenia, but it can be suppressed by drugs particularly atypical antipsychotic medications such as Risperidone. There are many theories as to the causes of schizophrenia such as heredity, or when it runs in the blood there is a chance. It can also be caused by biological theory in which there is a low amount of dopamine in the brain which may cause schizophrenia. Substance abuse also causes schizophrenia.

Schizoaffective disorder is also diagnosed based on the DSM criteria. This mental disorder is managed using a combination of drugs for the mood and the disorder. For the disorder, the only FDA medicine approved is Paliperidone with a generic name of Invega. The cause of schizoaffective disorder is still unknown.

Mental disorders cannot be prevented, but one must always be aware and must consult a doctor if one believes they are experiencing the signs and symptoms being enumerated.

Summary:

1.Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized mainly by hallucination, delusion, and disorganized speech while schizoaffective disorder has manifestations similar to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism.
2.Schizophrenia was discovered earlier in 1908 while schizoaffective disorder was discovered during 1933.
3.Schizophrenia is treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs while schizoaffective disorder is managed with several drugs for the disorder and mood manifestations.

Sharing is caring!