Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental illness marked by the fact that those with the condition display symptoms from different mood and psychotic disorders. Because the condition presents symptoms of other common mental disorders, it’s often difficult for mental health professionals to come to a proper diagnosis. Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center understands the complexity of treating schizoaffective disorder, which allows them to address the full scope of the illness in their clients.

Understanding Schizoaffective Disordera young man covers his face after being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder

People with schizoaffective disorder may show signs of hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms, including:

  • Disorganized thinking
  • Depression
  • Manic behavior
  • Inability to reason and function
  • Lack of personal hygiene

Without treatment, people who have mental illnesses may struggle with the following issues:

  • Becoming socially isolated from friends and family
  • Constant unemployment because of an inability to focus on tasks
  • Feelings of anxiety
  • Substance abuse and addiction issues
  • Problems with family relationships
  • Ongoing physical health problems
  • Thoughts of self-harm and suicide

Diagnosing Schizoaffective Disorder

Diagnosing schizoaffective disorder in a person involves pushing through to make sure that other mental illnesses are not the primary cause of the symptoms on display. Mental health professionals generally rely on the following guidelines in diagnosing the mental disorder.

  1. There must be an uninterrupted period where a mood disorder episode, either manic or depressive, that occurs at the same time a person displays signs of schizophrenia.
  2. Individuals must display signs of hallucinations or delusions for at least two weeks during a time where there are no signs of a mood disorder.
  3. Have symptoms that meet established criteria for a mood disorder present during the duration of the illness.
  4. Have symptoms unrelated to any prescribed medication or drug use.

It’s important to note that until you get the proper diagnosis, treatment cannot begin. Sadly, many people who struggle with schizoaffective disorder don’t want to receive treatment. They may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with these symptoms. In such cases, dual diagnosis treatment, such as the ones found at Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center, is your best option.

Treating Schizoaffective Disorder

Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center varies its treatment of schizoaffective disorder depending on the severity of the symptoms manifesting from the illness. Many of our clients respond well to a combination of various therapies, medication, and help with life skills. Some benefit by admitting themselves for inpatient hospitalization. We also offer men’s and women’s treatment programs. These programs allow our patients to focus entirely on their recovery.

The medications used for treating schizoaffective disorder include antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and depressants. Our team of professionals provides constant monitoring to ensure clients receive the best care. We make adjustments as needed to help clients achieve the best outcome from their treatment plan.

Some clients come to our facility with a dual diagnosis. They may be dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction that also needs care. The staff at Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center gives each client a thorough evaluation to ensure we capture all their needs and map out a practical course of treatment.

  • Dual diagnosis education
  • Equine therapy
  • Art therapy
  • Yoga
  • EMDR
  • Meditation
  • Family therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

We make the entire process work through alliances with therapists, psychiatrists, case managers, and clinical staff. That allows us to help clients at different stages of their illness and craft unique treatment plans to suit their needs.

Get Help With Your Mental Health Diagnosis

You don’t have to feel trapped by your diagnosis. At Viewpoint Dual Recovery Center, we strive to help people just like you overcome their mental health diagnosis. We offer a variety of programs offered, including:

Call today at 855.746.3633 if you’re ready to start dealing with an illness that may consume your life.