Endogenous diseases, or, more simply, diseases caused by internal disorders, such as schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, functional psychosis and schizoaffective disorders, are serious but treatable. Such disorders can be mild or severe, have an acute, dramatic or lethargic, hardly noticeable for others around. Such diseases are not uncommon, affecting both men and women, both young, mature and professionally improving, as well as mature and approaching old age.
What is schizoaffective disorder?
Several forms of schizoaffective disorder are psychotic pathologies bordering on schizophrenia and affective disorders, depression, and bipolar psychosis.
Schizophrenia is based on the breakdown of thinking and the upset of emotional perception.
Affective disorders are manifested in a decrease in emotional perception and negative perception of the world.
A disease of this type can affect all spheres of life and social relations. A characteristic paroxysmal course with manifestations inherent in an affective disorder (mania, depression) is considered characteristic of schizoaffective psychosis.
As a result, schizoaffective psychosis occurs.
Schizoaffective disorder, the symptoms of which will be presented below, has an uncertain etiology. Doctors and scientists are inclined to argue that both genetic and biochemical factors, as well as environmental factors, can lead to it.
Biochemical causes are associated with an imbalance of chemicals, neurotransmitters, responsible for the process of transmitting messages between cells in the human brain.
Viral type infections, severe stressful situations, human social isolation provoke schizoaffective disorder. The patient's medical history indicates that such external factors of the surrounding world lead to the disease if a person has a genetic predisposition.
Symptoms of the disorder
The first symptoms of the disease can occur at any age. The clinical picture has signs of schizophrenic and affective disorder, if manifested:
- decreased appetite;
- sleep disturbance (drowsiness or insomnia);
- increased excitability against the background of aggressiveness;
- fast fatigue;
- inferiority complex, accompanied by deep hopelessness and fatality;
- difficulty concentrating on actions, blurred intelligence;
- obsessive suicidal disposition;
- acceleration of the pace of speech, but at the same time its disturbances are also noticeable, which are manifested by stuttering or “swallowing” of word endings;
- dangerous social behavior that threatens their own lives and the lives of other people (during exacerbations);
- strange, unusual, incorrect behavior ;
- illogical expression of emotions.
Typology of pathology
Schizoaffective disorders can be accompanied by different background moods, depending on the prevalence of which we can talk about three main types of developing pathological process:
- An increased mood with delusions of grandeur, with delusions of great origin and of their own superpowers is a manifestation of a manic disorder . Endless fun, hyperactivity with a reduced need for sleep, an accelerated pace of speech, thoughts and actions, delusions that take on a cosmic or magical character - all this is schizoaffective disorder (manic type). Overexcitation, irritability, aggressiveness and vivid disturbed behavior with proper treatment can be eliminated within a few weeks.
- If the disorder is a depressive schizoaffective disorder, then it manifests itself in a decreased mood with elements of hypochondriac delirium, poor appetite, weight loss, apathy for everything around and to life, general weakness, a sense of hopelessness. Often with such a violation, deterioration in memory and concentration is noticeable.
- It can be both depressive and manic schizoaffective disorder. The mixed type is characterized by the fact that with this pathology, fear and apathy are replaced by happiness and vice versa.
How to properly diagnose an ailment
Since schizoaffective disorders have manifestations of two mental illnesses, it is sometimes difficult even for doctors to make a correct diagnosis. Laboratory tests to diagnose such disorders will not help. However, the doctor can prescribe x-rays or a blood test in order to make sure that the symptoms are a manifestation of this particular pathology.
For diagnosis, doctors use the differential method and only cases when there are present to schizoaffective psychosis include:
- for a long time manic-depressive syndrome;
- for two or more weeks of hallucinations and delirium as independent symptoms.
The doctor will need to make sure that there is no hardware and clinically confirmed disease or trauma in the brain, and also to exclude the effects of toxic and drug preparations.
If physical causes are not found as a result of the examination, the patient will be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist who, through specially designed interviews and tests, will determine whether the person is sick or healthy.
Schizoaffective disorder: treatment
Therapy of schizoaffective psychosis begins with the specification of the form of the disorder. After this, a medication course is prescribed that allows you to stabilize your mood. It is complemented by psychotherapy and practical training that improves interpersonal and social skills.
Medications, as already mentioned, are selected depending on the type of disorder and the condition of the patient. The use of antipsychotics such as Amitriptyline, Melipramin, Maprotilin is justified in depressive-paranoid seizures. Expansive-paranoid disorders are treated with beta-blockers, lithium, Carbamazepine. For prophylaxis, a maintenance dose of potassium carbonate contained in the preparations "Kontemnol", "Litinol", "Litobid" is prescribed.
Psychotherapy for schizoaffective disorders
The goal of psychotherapy is to tell the patient as much as possible about the disease and help him figure out the reasons that led him to a painful state. Connecting a family to psychotherapy sessions will help more effectively help a person who has a disorder.
Hospitalization with schizoaffective psychosis is not always required. In most cases, patients undergo outpatient treatment. Only people with strong and vivid symptoms, as well as those who threaten the safety of their own life or the lives of other people, can be hospitalized to stabilize their condition.
What can be the forecast
Schizoaffective disorder, the prognosis of the cure of which in most cases is favorable, does not cause gross personality changes, although it has a fairly long course.
This disorder does not have special treatment. All individually. To improve the quality of life, the patient should regularly visit a psychiatrist and take anti-relapse drugs.
Is it possible to avoid this pathology
Since it is difficult to accurately determine the etiology of the disorder, it is not possible to prevent the development of this ailment. But diagnosis at an early stage and adequate treatment can avoid frequent outbreaks of disorder, hospitalization, make it possible to maintain social, personal relationships, which, without treatment, this pathology can destroy.
Schizoaffective disorder, the syndromes and symptoms of which were presented above, being an ailment of an endogenous nature, is still incurable, and it is not possible to cope with it independently. However, preventive treatment with consultation in a psychiatric clinic will allow the patient to become a full-fledged personality, have a normal habitual lifestyle, learn and work. Health to you!