What we know and what we don't know about the treatment of schizoaffective disorder.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol
; 21(9): 680-90, 2011 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21565468
ABSTRACT
Schizoaffective disorder (SAD) is a chronic, severe and disabling illness consisting on the concurrent presentation of symptoms of schizophrenia and affective disorders (depression and/or mania). Evidence for the treatment of SAD mostly derives from studies based on mixed samples (i.e. schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients) or on extrapolations from studies on schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The objective of the present review is to systematically consider and summarize the best evidence-based approaches to the treatment of SAD and extensively point out the gap between treatment research and clinical practice of this disorder. The complex problem of controlling the pleomorphic presentation of SAD's syndromic construct is reflected in the lack of evidence on key topics, including diagnostic consistency, pharmacological approaches (mood stabilizers, antidepressants, both in acute and maintenance treatment as well as their possible combination), and the adjunctive role of psychosocial and biophysical interventions. Finally, treatment strategies for SAD, both unipolar and bipolar type, are proposed.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Psychotic Disorders
/
Antipsychotic Agents
/
Antimanic Agents
/
Antidepressive Agents
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol
Journal subject:
PSICOFARMACOLOGIA
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain