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Started going to this support group last month and there’s people with both diagnoses there. We were all talking after the session and realized none of us could really explain why some people have one diagnosis versus the other even though our experiences seem super similar in a lot of ways. It got me thinking I should actually learn this properly. What’s the real difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder? Not just symptoms but like, what makes them fundamentally different conditions?
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The main thing that separates them is the mood component. With schizophrenia, you’ve got psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions as the primary issue. Schizoaffective means you’re dealing with those same psychotic symptoms PLUS significant mood episodes (depression or mania) that happen for a substantial chunk of time.
I was in the same boat at my group actually. Someone shared this article is schizoaffective disorder a type of schizophrenia that finally made it click for me. Basically if mood episodes are a major independent part of what you’re experiencing alongside the psychosis, that’s when schizoaffective comes into play.
My cousin has schizophrenia and rarely deals with mood stuff, but I have schizoaffective and go through these intense depressive periods that are just as debilitating as the psychotic symptoms. That’s the real distinguisher. Hope this helps!
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