Bipolar with Psychotic Features vs Schizoaffective: What's the Difference?

is bipolar with psychotic features the same as schizoaffective? i tried to ask my psychiatrist about it today but couldn't really understand what she meant. i was diagnosed with schizoaffective from a previous psychiatrist but moved back to my other psychiatrist originally and she still has me diagnosed with bipolar with psychotic features even though ice sent my medical papers over to her stating that i was being treated for schizoaffective. im confused.

Your answer

CatherineDerry

10mo ago

Here's the main difference between Bipolar w/ psychotic features and bipolar schizoaffective disorder. In bipolar w/ psychotic features, your psychotic features (such as hallucinations, delusions, flat affect, etc.) only occur when you are in the midst of a manic or depressive episode. With bipolar schizoaffective disorder, your psychotic features can be present with or without an episode. As far as I know, you have to meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. So essentially, bipolar schizoaffective is just a fancy way of saying you have both Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Hope this helps!

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