Is it possible to be schizoaffective without having strange beliefs?

Question

The secondary diagnosis given by my psychiatrist is schizoaffective (or schizotypal) i can't remember which one. I was made aware of this through a hospital worker (don't know what he was called, but it wasn't a nurse). He was filling out a form of mine when I was in the hospital, and he said, "schizoaffective disorder.." as he was writing. Anyway, I dont have any strange beliefs as far as i know, but i have peculiar behavior towards people compared to other young women i like to be alone and people make me anxious and irritable often. my therapist thought i have poor social skills according to a form he wrote. i also can sometimes be overly-suspicious about people's intentions. but i dont have any odd beliefs like fairys or whatever.why would he give me this diagnosis without asking me this? would it be to my advantage to know if i was schizoaffective or whatever? if someone has depression or schizophrenia, the doctor lets them know, why not for this? what if i didnt agree with him?

Answer 1

I would ask my psychiatrist about it... there is nothing to hide. EVERYONE has some traits or characteristics about their personality. (That is what personality is... it doesn't mean it is abnormal). What you described about yourself actually fits the schizoaffective/schizotypal personality traits. Schizo-affective or typal mean the same (essentially). Don't confuse this with schizophrenia ...it is not that at all.



When you have that as a secondary diagnosis it just gives some hints to what qualities your baseline personality might be like OR what it seemed like at the time of the visit or hospitalization. How it helps is... if you like to be alone more... then that is your norm or baseline... in someone that was always very outgoing that suddenly wanted to be alone... might be evaluated for depression ...where you would not be as readily considered that you were depressed because you enjoy your alone time.

They would be looking for other signs or symptoms of depression... like wanting to sleep all the time. All signs and symptoms could be rated on a scale of 0 to 100. For example, I probably fit an obsessive-compulsive personality...but would be low on the scale. "I have to type all this detail for you" Yet, I am not handicapped by it or dysfunctional (example: I am not washing my hands till they bleed.)



If you get an opportunity...just print what you wrote and share the responses you got and ask for some understanding. You will be amazed at how this is not very complex. The doctor can explain all of this and should now that it is causing you some anxiety.



That is my best answer!

Answer 2

in psychology his diagnosis is kind of more of an opinion depending on their impression of their session with you. another psychiatrist could come up with something completely different. schizoaffective/typal is essentially that you've had some characteristics of schizophrenia but not enough for a full diagnosis. one is someone with schizophrenic and depressive characteristics (schizoaffective, i believe), schizotypal is like schizophrenia but symptoms were for less than 6 months. you do not need to have hallucinations or delusions for these two diagnoses. however, your irritability, suspicions, and desire to be alone are some of the symptoms. psych diseases are diagnosed by DSM-IV (four) criteria that you may be able to look up online. you could see exactly what the criteria are. good luck.

Answer 3

Your description is much more similar to someone with schizoid personality disorder than it is to someone with schizoaffective disorder or schizotypal personality disorder. Patients with schizoid PD perfer to be alone, and derive little (or no) pleasure from social relationships (nor do they desire them).



In the USA, HIPAA legislation gives patients the right to amend their medical records. If you like, you can request to make your own comment a part of the medical record (e.g., "I do not agree with....").



It is certainly to your advantage to be familiar with the details of your diagnosis. If you have not discussed it with your treatment team, I encourage you to do so. It is important that everyone is on the same "page", so to speak, when it comes to effective treatment (patient, therapist, physicians, support group, etc).