Schizoaffective disorder is a serious mental illness that has features of two different conditions, schizophrenia and an affective (mood) disorder, either major depression or bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that distorts the way a person thinks, acts, expresses emotions, perceives reality, and relates to others. Depression is an illness that is marked by feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or hopelessness, as well as problems concentrating and remembering details. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes, including severe highs (mania) and lows (depression).

Schizoaffective disorder is a life-long illness that can impact all areas of daily living, including work or school, social contacts, and relationships. Most people with this illness have periodic episodes, called relapses, when their symptoms surface. While there is no cure for schizoaffective disorder, symptoms often can be controlled with proper treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder?

A person with schizoaffective disorder has severe changes in mood and some of the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Psychotic symptoms reflect the person's inability to tell what is real from what is imagined. Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder may vary greatly from one person to the next and may be mild or severe. Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder may include:

Depression

Poor appetite
Weight loss or gain
Changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping very little or a lot)
Agitation (excessive restlessness)
Lack of energy
Loss of interest in usual activities
Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
Guilt or self-blame
Inability to think or concentrate
Thoughts of death or suicide

Mania

Increased activity, including work, social, and sexual activity
Increased and/or rapid talking
Rapid or racing thoughts
Little need for sleep
Agitation
Inflated self-esteem
Distractibility
Self-destructive or dangerous behavior (such as going on spending sprees, driving recklessly, or having unsafe sex)

Schizophrenia

Delusions (strange beliefs that are not based in reality and that the person refuses to give up, even when presented with factual information)
Hallucinations (the perception of sensations that aren't real, such as hearing voices)
Disorganized thinking
Odd or unusual behavior
Slow movements or total immobility
Lack of emotion in facial expression and speech
Poor motivation
Problems with speech and communication

What Causes Schizoaffective Disorder?

While the exact cause of schizoaffective disorder is not known, researchers believe that genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors are involved.

Genetics (heredity) : A tendency to develop schizoaffective disorder may be passed on from parents to their children.
Brain chemistry : People with schizophrenia and mood disorders may have an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, are substances that help nerve cells in the brain send messages to each other. An imbalance in these chemicals can interfere with the transmission of messages, leading to symptoms.
Environmental factors : Evidence suggests that certain environmental factors -- such as a viral infection, poor social interactions or highly stressful situations -- may trigger schizoaffective disorder in people who have inherited a tendency to develop the disorder.