What is the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder?
Schizoaffective is a disorder in which a person experiences symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior, or negative symptoms (decreased energy, social withdrawal, etc.), while, during the same time period, experiences a major depressive, manic, or mixed episode. A person must experience these symptoms for at least one month and have at least a two week period with schizophrenic symptoms without the mood component. In contrast, schizophrenia is diagnosed if mood aspects are not present, there is a major disturbance in ability to work, in interpersonal relations or in self care, and if the condition continues for more than six months. Q: What can I do if my family member refuses to take his/her medication? A: This is one of the most frustrating problems families may experience. It may be hard to understand why someone would refuse to take medication when the necessity of doing so seems so obvious to everyone else. Patients with psychiatri
