Psychiatria pre prax 3/2024

New perspectives on the diagnosis and management of schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder (SAD) is a complex psychiatric diagnosis requiring a tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Clinically, SAD is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of psychotic and affective symptoms, making it challenging to distinguish from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite advances in diagnostic criteria and the availability of specific pharmacological options, particularly paliperidone as the only officially approved medication for SAD, many questions regarding this disorder remain unanswered. This article provides an overview of current approaches to the diagnosis and management of SAD, emphasizing the need for further research to enhance understanding of its pathophysiology and optimize its treatment.

Keywords: schizoaffective disorder, diagnosis, treatment, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, paliperidone