[*Beth*]

If someone (me) has bipolar disorder, but has mild psychotic symptoms (me) while emotionally stable, isn't that considered schizoaffective disorder?

[Victoria'smom]

I'd say yes but it really depends on the dr.

[Jmayfair]

A diagnosis is often times a wide variety of symptoms at once. This was told to me by a GP about any illness. I believe it should apply here as well. If not then we could all just take those internet psychiatric tests and accept them as fact even though they are far from it.

[Soupe du jour]

Perhaps so or perhaps not. The brain is a pretty complex organ and reacts in unique ways to various stressors. Sometimes even what seems like psychosis isn't bona fide psychosis. In the past I had psychosis-like events/periods and used to wonder "Are they related to my BP? Related to some seizure activity? Related to stress/trauma? Related to some dissociative experience (often related to trauma/stress)? Other?" I asked those questions primarily because I did not feel I was manic or severely depressed during some. When I am manic, it is usually quite obvious to others, and in many of the odd-ball cases above, mania wasn't suspected. That's not to say I didn't have 100% sure psychosis attributed to some past manias.

I am a true believer in bipolar disorder as a spectrum disorder. I also believe many factors in life/experiences can affect the brain in unrelated ways to the very limited term "bipolar disorder". My mental health experiences have had some similarities to others', but also a number of differences. My experiences have fit the DSM-5 criteria for bipolar disorder type 1, but occasionally weird "other stuff" doesn't quite. I am with those who do like a diagnosis of sorts to work from, but I also see the merit of doctor approaches where they consider just symptoms and avoid labels.

[*Beth*]

Thanks, all. I feel insecure without a label. If I have a diagnosis I can research it and educate myself about it. However, I know that pdocs tend to shy away from giving definite dx's, for the most part.

[MickeyCheeky]

i don't know anything about this kind of thing so i'll just go along with what the other wise and wonderful posters are saying. Definitely contact your pdoc if you have some doubts. Hopefully you will get an answer soon. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @BethRags, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

[wolftrap]

I had this discussion with my therapist, and she said it is a measure of degree. If the psychosis is mild, such as minor hallucinations or intermittent disassociation, it is probably not severe enough to be labeled schizoaffective disorder. But I agree with everyone else, if it worries you it is a serious conversation you should have with your pdoc.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by wolftrap

I had this discussion with my therapist, and she said it is a measure of degree. If the psychosis is mild, such as minor hallucinations or intermittent disassociation, it is probably not severe enough to be labeled schizoaffective disorder. But I agree with everyone else, if it worries you it is a serious conversation you should have with your pdoc.

Thanks, Wolf. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, too. She definitely dx'ed me with BD1. Once I asked her if I have schizoaffective disorder and she said, "Hmm, mmm...possibly..." But that was at least a year ago. So I could ask her again. I really hope I don't have it. I'd say that my psychosis is "mild", but in truth it sometimes reaches "moderate."

[BipolaRNurse]

My understanding of schizoaffective disorder is that psychosis can occur independently of mania or depression. IOW, you can be in that sweet spot between “blah” and”yee-HAW!” and still experience hallucinations, delusions etc. Please educate me if I’m wrong.