Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 6/29/2011

Question
I have been diagnosed by my psychiatrist and psychotherapist as bi-polar, major depressive disorder,anxiety,ADHD,social avoidance,dissociative disorder,cfs and now schizophrenia and or schizoaffective disorder. I fully understand all of the above except for the schizophrenia/schizoaffective  disorder. I am not quite sure exactly what that means.I am on valium,lamictal,wellbutrin xl,invega,metadate cd,lunesta and vistaril.I know that the valium & metadate have helped with my adhd and anger /anxiety/pain issues(some),not sure about the lamictal or wellbutrin,and invega for my other issues. But once again please explain exactly what schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder is.

Answer
The diagnosis of schizo-affective disorder is applied to an individual who has a history of depressive and manic episodes and who becomes psychotic when neither manic nor depressed.

For example, if one becomes psychotic while manic or depressed, the diagnosis is psychotic mania or psychotic depression. If one haas a history of mania and depression, and one becomes psychotic when not in a manic or depressive episode, the diagnosis is schizo-affective disorder.

Best regards . . .

Ivan
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