Has anyone ever heard of this?

I have a question to pose to other diagnosed Bipolars if they have ever heard of Psychosis appearing with and without mood in Bipolar Disorder? or would that typically mean Schizoaffective? My doc only says that we can't tell and we have to wait and see. Can I get some opinions.

As my T explained it to me, schizoaffective is more toward schizophrenia than it is a mood disorder. So I took it to mean that schizoaffective is more like having schizophrenia AND BP or depression, but more schizophrenia symptoms than the mood symptoms. Bipolar w/psychosis is just bipolar.

I know you've been concerned about this. Maybe you can track the times you have psychosis and how your mood is when it occurs. You could keep a basic mood chart to see if and how your moods fluctuate. Take notes on the chart where you have a psychotic episode. I don't know if it will help or not because I don't have psychotic features. But I'm hoping that you find your answer. I know how you feel in that respect.

Good luck

Thanks for the suggestions Pughead. My doctor explained it to me as a spectrum between disorders of MOOD as opposed to disorders of THOUGHT and that Schizoaffective Disorder is the middle between manic depressive illness and Schizophrenia. He said I am the spectrum between Psychotic Bipolar I and Schizoaffective Disorder.

I found this whilst searching the web:

"Schizoaffective disorder": an invalid diagnosis? A comparison of schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and affective disorder

HG Pope Jr, JF Lipinski, BM Cohen and DT Axelrod

The authors compared patients meeting widely accepted criteria for the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, manic type, with patients meeting rigorous criteria for manic disorder and schizophrenia, using three methods of validation: family history, short-term treatment response, and long-term outcome. No significant differences were found between patients with manic disorder and schizoaffective disorder. However, consistent and often highly significant differences separated patients with schizophrenia from those with manic disorder and schizoaffective disorder. The findings suggest that schizoaffective disorder, as currently defined, is not a valid and independent entity. The authors suggest that psychotic disorders not diagnosable as manic- depressive illness or schizophrenia and without apparent organic basis would best be called "undiagnosed" or "atypical" psychosis. Further, while proposals for new diagnoses or for sub typing of schizophrenia or manic-depressive illness should be encouraged, these should undergo rigorous screening for validity before being accepted into clinical use.

yes i have it when i'm feeling ok and more so when i am not feeling ok. i hear voices like a radio in the distance. usualy mens voice. but i see people when i am verry depressed. like shadows of people.onyx

Hi Psychotic Phil & Everyone!

I am Bipolar 2, dx in Dec 06. When my hypomania is nearing Mania..I do hear voices and have had hallucinations. The voices are as described by Onyx6900.

It is as though I am the radio transmitter: I can clearly hear conversations/chat/ between 2-3 people at a time. This usually starts "quietly" but as I move UP to Mania with anxiety -they become very loud, distinct and annoying. Because I am can hear-but cannot respond. Once my mood cycles down..or stabilizes, the chatter stops.

The hallucinations I had were at the same time as High Hypomania with anxiety. They were disturbibg as I could walk right through them.......and then they disappeared. YIKES!!

My PDoc is aware of this-so we work closely together to bring me down & keep me stable.

Psychotic Phil: I am unsure if my post answers some questions-or creates more. My hope is that it helps you.!

Has anyone ever heard the voices of major religious figures, like the devil or God? I have. Pretty scary.

Never had religious hallucinations, but definitely religious delusions. I have believed on several occasions that I am destined to kill God.