Schizoaffective disorder
Definition
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental condition that causes both a loss of contact with reality (psychosis) and mood problems.
Causes
The exact cause of schizoaffective disorder is unknown. Changes in genes and chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters) may play a role.
Schizoaffective disorder is believed to be less common than schizophrenia and mood disorders. Women may have the condition more often than men.
Although mood disorders are somewhat common in children, schizophrenia is not. Therefore schizoaffective disorder tends to be rare in children.
References
Moore DP, Jefferson JW. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2004:126-127.
Goetz, CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2003: 48.
Addington D, Bouchard RH, Goldberg J, Honer B, Malla A, Norman R, Tempier R. Clinical practice guidelines: treatment of schizophrenia. Can J Psychiatry, 2005;50:7s-57s.
International early psychosis association writing group. International clinical practice guidelines for early psychosis. Br J Psychiatry, 2005;187:s120-s124.
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