Stories
Privacy
Download
See Alike in...
Alike App
Browser
300d
my psychiatrist treats me on symptoms alone - because of this, he told me that my symptoms were somewhere in between bipolar i and schizoaffective disorder. he said that treatments were the same so he wasn't focused on finding which one suits me best. for people with experience, how did you get diagnosed with one or the other? how should i go about figuring out which one i have? i'm a bit confused about the difference between bipolar i with psychosis vs schizoaffective disorder when i google it lol. so i would love some personal experiences
2
7
Share
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder with psychotic features
Schizoaffective Disorder (SZA, SZD or SAD)
advertisement
243d
The basic difference is this: Bipolar 1 w/ psychosis means that you only experienced the psychosis while also having either a manic or depressive episode. Bipolar Schizoaffective Disorder is just a fancy way of saying you have both Bipolar and a form of Schizophrenia, meaning you can experience psychotic symptoms at any time - even if you're not having a manic or depressive episode. And to receive an official schizophrenia or schizoaffective diagnosis, you must have been experiencing at least two symptoms of psychosis (including delusions, hallucinations, etc.,) for six months or more. Not sure if you know what the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual version 5.0 (DSM-V) is, but it's basically the psychiatry bible. It lists mental illnesses and the criteria required for a diagnosis. I think most libraries have a copy.
Also, you can ask your psychiatrist. He may not know enough about your symptom duration to diagnose you
1
@JohnLocke i may take time to explain my symptoms further to him because even though he's not particularly interested in the answer i definitely am
0
It may have to do with length of the manic episode or when psychosis occurs
@JohnLocke thank you, i hadn't thought of that for some reason. my psychosis is constant when i'm unmedicated and more mild when i am
283d
@stormysundays I recently heard schizoaffective has a psychosis of two weeks without mood symptoms. Look up the DSM 5 definition for schizoaffective and compare with bipolar
☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision
Want to chat or share? Download the Alike app now and get complete access to Alike.health's unique features.
"Someone with bipolar only experiences symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Whereas someone with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type experiences both symptoms and meets the criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia as well as bipolar. Bipolar is categorized as a mood disorder and schizophrenia is categorized as a psychotic disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is a disorder that causes you to have symptoms of schizophrenia and a mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder."
Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences
Write your question here...
Download Alike for the full experience
Copy Link
Copied
Discover your Alikeness™ with people who are on the same journey, gain wisdom and get emotional relief in a secure & anonymous space.
4.7 Ratings
Scan code or click below download the app
Bupropion
night sweats
paranoid
Valium
sertraline
palpitations
Anxiety (Including GAD)
Depression
Alike health
Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences
Related Questions