BACKGROUND Allelic variation in the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been associated with affective disorders, but generally not schizophrenia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor variants may help clarify the status of schizoaffective disorder. AIMS To test the hypothesis that BDNF haplotypes are associated with psychiatric illness marked by a prominent affective comp...

BACKGROUND The fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) opted to retain existing diagnostic boundaries between bipolar I disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. The debate preceding this decision focused on understanding the biologic basis of these major mental illnesses. Evidence from genetics, neuroscience, and pharmacotherapeutics info...

This is a cross-sectional comparative study with the aim to compare two patient groups of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and their respective caregivers with the objectives to quantify and compare the burden in caregivers of person with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and to study the relationship between them. In this study, 40 patients schizophrenia, 40 patients of schi...

Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by the presence of symptoms of both schizophrenia and a major mood disorder. The coexistence of these symptoms can be difficult to manage, and these patients are generally treated with antipsychotics as well as mood stabilizers and/or antidepressants. Additionally, no established treatment guidelines exist for this disorder. This review describes the co...

A number of studies demonstrate the positive benefits of exercise for people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders; however the exercise program variables resulting in these positive effects have not been evaluated. Therefore the aim of this systematic review was to describe the aerobic exercise program variables used in randomized controlled trials reporting the positive effect of e...

Remitting illness such as affective or schizoaffective disorder is appropriately described by a vulnerability model. Clinical evidence is reviewed here to clarify the relationship between the affective-disorder-like and schizophrenia-like symptoms in a schizoaffective episode. A model is proposed which treats vulnerability to schizoaffective and schizophreniform psychosis as the result of two f...

Atypical neuroleptics are increasingly used in the treatment of bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. Currently, numerous controlled short-term studies are available for clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone or quetiapine, but long-term data are still missing. Three patients (2 with bipolar disorder, 1 with schizoaffective disorder) are described who showed a marked reduction of affective symptom...