Schizoaffective Disorder

Treatments

Appropriate medication          

Treatment Summary: The most common treatment of schizoaffective disorder is an antipsychotic drug. This form of treatment is followed closely by the following: a combination of antipsychotic plus a mood agent; antipsychotic plus an antidepressant, and an antipsychotic plus an antidepressant plus a mood agent (Cascade, Kalalia, & Buckley, 2009). The antipsychotic drug ziprasidone at 160 mg a day was significantly more effective than a placebo. Other antipsychotic drugs that have been considered for the treatment of schizoaffective disorder include: olanzapine, fluphenazine, quetiapine, and risperidone. Long-acting risperidone and clozapine may be effective in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder. There are numerous other drugs in each category that may be effective when treating a client with schizoaffective disorder (Jager, Becker, Weinmann, & Frasch, 2009). Some clients require a combination of drugs depending on their symptoms. Drugs can also be paired with other forms of treatment such as psychotherapy but appropriate medication is the most common form of treatment for schizoaffective disorder. 

• Reference: Cascade, E., Kalali, A., & Buckley, P. (2009). Treatment of schizoaffective disorder. Psychiatry, 6 (3), 15-17. Jager, M., Becker, T., Weinmann, S., & Frasch, K. (2009). Treatment of schizoaffective disorder- a challenge for evidence-base psychiatry. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 121, 22-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2009.01424.x 

• Submitter: Carina M. Robinson 

Continuance/Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy 

Summary of Treatment: Electroconvulsive therapy is considered acceptable today for disorders such as depression and proves beneficial for patients with schizophrenia with positive and affective symptoms. In the study conducted by Iancu et. al. 20 patients were asked to participate, 4 of which had schizoaffective disorder. The electroconvulsive therapy was given continuously, and the results revealed significantly reduced scores for verbal aggression and self-harm and improved Global Assessment of Functioning scores. Continuous and maintained electroconvulsive is safe and effective for chronically hospitalized patients, and it also improves overall functioning reducing verbal regression and self-harm. Even after remission of psychotic symptoms continuous and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy is provided immediately, and the frequency is gradually reduced to reduce the recurrence of symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy that is continuous and maintained can be beneficial to those patients who do not adhere to antipsychotics and can be a stabilizer for these individuals with schizoaffective disorder. (Ianco et. al., 2015). 

• Reference: Iancu, I., Pick, N., Seener-Lorsh, O., & Dannon, P. (2015). Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who receive multiple electroconvulsive therapy sessions: characteristics, indications, and results. Neuropsychiatric Disease & Treatment, 11853-862. doi:10.2147/NDT.S78919 

• Submitted by: Kezandra Munoz