Schizoaffective disorder is a serious mental health condition that combines symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations and delusions) with mood disorder symptoms (such as depression or mania). It is a complex and often misunderstood condition.

There are two main types:

- Bipolar type - involves episodes of mania and possibly depression.

- Depressive type - involves major depressive episodes without mania.

Because schizoaffective disorder includes features of multiple psychiatric conditions, it's frequently misdiagnosed. Some people are initially diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression with psychotic features before receiving the correct diagnosis.

Key Symptoms:

- Psychotic symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking

- Mood symptoms: Depression, mania, mood instability

- Cognitive symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, slower thinking

- Negative symptoms: Low motivation, emotional flatness, reduced speech, social withdrawal