Understanding Schizoaffective Disorder: From Psychobiology to Psychosocial Functioning

Psychobiologic evidence and psychosocial functioning in patients with schizoaffective disorder suggest that the disease may be a distinct disorder, a variant of schizophrenia or affective disorders, the comorbidity of schizophrenia and a mood disorder, or an intermediate disorder on a spectrum that ranges from schizophrenia to mood disorders. These data, although inconclusive, contribute to clinicians’ understanding of the etiology of the disorder. Further research may lead to an increased understanding of the disorder, improved treatment, and, ultimately, better outcomes.

From the Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

This article is derived from the planning teleconference series "New Approaches to Managing Schizoaffective Disorder From Diagnosis to Treatment," which was held in June 2010 and supported by an educational grant from Janssen, Division of Ortho-McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. administered by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC.

Dr Correll is a consultant for AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Hoffmann-La Roche, Otsuka, Pfizer, and Vanda; has received honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cephalon, GlaxoSmithKline, Lundbeck, Ortho-McNeil Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Otsuka, and Supernus; and is a member of the advisory boards for Actelion, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Otsuka, Pfizer, Schering-Plough, Sepracor/Sunovion, and Takeda.

Corresponding author: Christoph U. Correll, MD, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Division of Psychiatry Research, 75-59 263rd St, Glen Oaks, NY 11004 (ccorrell@lij.edu).