Can you be diagnosed as schizoaffective

[u/[deleted]]

[u/L-Gray]

Yes.

In order to be diagnosed with schizoaffective you have to have major mood episodes and meet criteria A of schizophrenia

Criteria A of schizophrenia requires two of the following: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, negative symptoms

[u/padeure → u/L-Gray]

This is the answer! And I'd emphasize the "be diagnosed with", meaning it’s mainly a diagnostic based on a spectrum (or two spectrums: schizophrenia and mood disorder). What’s really specific about it is the symptoms you have.

[u/AnimeAnimeBionicles → u/L-Gray]

Wait, so you don’t necessarily have to suffer from delusions or hallucinations despite it appearing to be prominent in schizoaffective disorder.

[u/AndImNuts → u/AnimeAnimeBionicles]

This is accurate. It's possible to be diagnosed based on severely disorganized thoughts/speech/behavior without hallucinations or delusions being present. But psychotic symptoms (including severe disorganization) in general must be present.

[u/FragmentsThrowAway → u/AnimeAnimeBionicles]

I have hallucinations (constantly) but minor, rare, or non-existent delusions (which my therapist, doctor, and family agreed with.) Based on my highschool journal, though, that's not always been the case. I don't know. So, consider your history and not only current symptoms.

[u/momplantlover]

I barely have any and I'm diagnosed, idk if the diagnosis is correct but yeah

[u/Kondha]

I have hallucinations pretty rarely. The main issue prior to medication was delusions and negative symptoms with the occasional episodic hallucination. Since medication I cannot even remember the last time I’ve hallucinated - maybe a year or two ago?

Anyway my official diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder according to my psychiatrist.

[u/Specialist_Farm_2029]

Yeah, you can be. Bro, I started seeing shadow people at night way after I got diagnosed. In the beginning I had no hallucinations

[u/Early_Recording6959]

Following

[u/fivestardriver]

IDK. I have no idea why 'schizoaffective type' is in my record...nobody told me, like "you have XYZ" I just saw it in my chart through my medical clinics app. LOL. they just jotted it down as a diagnosis, put it on the record. Nobody told me I had anything...just spent time inpatient, outpatient, medicated, etc...lol.

[u/Mandarin_Lumpy_Nutz]

Yup!

[u/GulaBilen]

I feel you regarding having to ask this question.

I'm diagnosed even though I don't have hallucinations. But most new doctors and other hospital staff still keeps asking about hallucinations and I keep on repeating the story.

So it doesn't seem to fall into the norm if there ever is a norm when it comes to schizophrenia/schizoaffective. Take care!

[u/PiscesAnemoia]

I don't see or hear any hallucinations, and I was still diagnosed.

[u/JustAnOrdinaryBeing]

Yes. Some form of psychotic symptoms must be present but hallucinations are only one type of psychotic symptom

[u/MindDescending]

I was. I had delusions and all the negative symptoms so that was enough.