Schizoaffective Disorder

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Schizoaffective disorder (SAD) is a mental illness that may change how you think, feel, and act around others. You may have symptoms of psychosis (loss of reality), along with symptoms of a mood problem. A mood problem includes being depressed (very sad), manic (very happy), or both. With SAD, you may not know what is real and what is not real. Your mood symptoms will be present for a large portion of the illness. SAD is a long-term disease. Symptoms may go away on their own, only to appear again later. Your illness may change how you live and how you get along with the people around you.
  
  
• The cause of SAD is not clear. Caregivers feel it may be caused by problems with your brain, or how it works. Causes may include genetics or having family members with the same condition. It may also be caused by stress or a chemical imbalance in your brain. Your caregiver will look for psychotic and mood symptoms. Treatment may include medicines for psychosis, side effects, mood changes, special forms of therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Having your SAD treated may help decrease your symptoms and help you return to your daily activities.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

Medicine monitoring:

• Caregivers will watch how you respond to your medicines. Sometimes the kind and amount of medicines you use may need to be changed. The goal is for the medicines to work well, and have the least amount of side effects. You and your caregiver will talk about how long you may need to use each of your medicines.
  
  
• You may need tests to check how much medicine is in your blood, or how well it is working. Caregivers use the results of these tests to decide the medicine and dose that is right for you. You may need to have these tests more than once.

Follow-up visit information: You may need to have your blood pressure checked often after you start your medicines. Certain medicines to treat SAD may cause your blood pressure to be too low. Ask your caregiver how often you should check your blood pressure. Keep all appointments with your caregivers. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Self-care: The following may help you feel better or prevent symptoms of SAD from coming back:

• Find support for yourself and your family. There are many others who have SAD or a similar condition. Talking to them may help you cope with your illness better. Talk to others about how you are doing, and how your family has adjusted. This may also help to improve how you relate to others. Being in a self-help group will encourage you and your peers to have better lives.
  
  
• Keep all medical appointments. Do not miss your regular appointments with your caregiver. There are many medical problems that may be caused by your medicines. Doing regular exams and tests will help caregivers know if you have any treatment problems.
  
  
• Learn more about SAD. Read about SAD so you can learn how to help your illness. The more you know about your condition, the better you can cope with it.
  
  
• Learn ways to manage stress. Deep breathing, meditation, relaxing your muscles, listening to music, or biofeedback may help you relax. Talk to someone about the things that upset you. Talk to your caregiver about these or other ways to manage stress.
  
  
• Use your medicines exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Taking your medicines regularly may help prevent you from getting sick. Put your medicines in a pillbox placed in an area you can easily see. Use a watch with an alarm to help you remember when it is time to take your medicine. Tell your caregiver if you know or think you might be pregnant. Your medicines will help you but may also have side effects. Do not stop taking your medicines without your caregivers OK as this may cause a bad response.
  
  
• Watch for early signs of a relapse. Knowing the early signs of psychosis will help you know when to get help right away. Warning signs may include one or more of the following:
  
  
  • How you think, feel, and see things has changed.
    
    
  • You are behaving differently than usual.
    
    
  • You are becoming more nervous and upset, but do not know why.
    
    
  • You are eating less and have trouble sleeping.
    
    
  • You have little or no interest in your friends.

For support and more information: Accepting that you have SAD is hard. You and those close to you may feel angry, sad, or frightened. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, and friends about your feelings. Contact the following:

• American Psychiatric Association
  1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825
  Arlington, VA 22209
  Phone: 1-703-907
  Web Address: http://www.psych.org
  

• National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
  60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 404
  Great Neck, NY 11021
  Phone: 1-800-829-8289
  Web Address: www.narsad.org
  

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Public Information & Communication Branch
  6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
  Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
  Phone: 1-301-443-4513
  Phone: 1-866-615-6464
  Web Address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You are having side effects from your medicine, or they are not helping.
  
  
• You are not sleeping well or sleep more than usual.
  
  
• You cannot eat or are eating more than usual.
  
  
• You cannot make it to your meeting with your caregiver.
  
  
• You have muscle spasms, stiffness, or trouble walking.
  
  
• Your sad feelings or thoughts change the way you function during the day.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You feel like hurting or killing yourself or others.
  
  
• You feel that your condition is getting worse.
  
  
• You feel very upset, threaten someone, or you feel violent. This may include talking loudly or shouting, or becoming very demanding (telling others what to do).
  
  
• You suddenly have changes in your vision.
  
  
• You suddenly have chest pain, trouble breathing, or a fever.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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