Schizo-affective psychosis: fact or fiction? A survey of the literature.

Full Abstract

The classification of functional psychoses has traditionally been dichotomous with schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder, which are considered separate entities. However, the psychiatric literature is replete with descriptions of psychoses with mixed features. A variety of names has been applied to these psychoses, including the term "schizo-affective." Confusion exists regarding the nature of these psychoses, much of it resulting from a tendency to limit investigation to an acute view of symptom complexes. This article examines the schizo-affective states across a variety of dimensions, including the acute symptomatologic picture, response to lithium carbonate therapy, follow-up studies, family history, and genetics. While the term "schizo-affective," as commonly used, probably describes a heterogeneous group of psychoses, considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that at least a subgroup of these psychoses has a definite relationship to the major affective disorders.

Author information

Author/s: Procci, W R (WR);

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Historical Article; Journal Article; Review

Journal: Archives of general psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1976-Oct; vol 33 (issue 10) : pp 1167-78

Dates: Created 1976/12/01; Completed 1976/12/01; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 788671, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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