[roseypeach]

Recently my psychiatrist has diagnosed me as schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. I was having frequent hallucinations at the time. I've never had any dr tell me this and I'm wondering if it is just a temporary dx or if this means my actual dx has changed permanently. Is this possible?

[James_from_Idaho]

Hello roseypeach.. I am schizoaffective.. I think what you are describing is entirely possible.. I mean, I have had the illness for a while.. But just in the last 4 years I have developed anxiety and ocd.. So, yes, I think it is possible your diagnosis could have changed.. Hope that helps you.. Peace

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by roseypeach

Recently my psychiatrist has diagnosed me as schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. I was having frequent hallucinations at the time. I've never had any dr tell me this and I'm wondering if it is just a temporary dx or if this means my actual dx has changed permanently. Is this possible?

From what I can tell bipolar, schizoaffective and schizophrenia exist along a spectrum much like there is a spectrum for autism. Genetically they are finding a lot of similarities between these diseases and they may all just be part of a continuum so I wouldn't worry too much about the change since the DSM isn't based on the actual science of disease right now.

Hi Rosey. My diagnosis went from depression, to bipolar 2, then to bipolar 1 with psychosis, and then it finally went to schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Diagnosing is a very grey area. Schizoaffective disorder is on the schizophrenic spectrum. Bipolar disorder is on the bipolar spectrum. In schizoaffective disorder, the psychosis is much more prominent and chronic than in bipolar disorder. In bipolar disorder, the psychosis usually happens during mood swings. In schizoaffective disorder, the psychosis can happen outside of mood swings too. If you go back to only having psychosis during mood swings, then your diagnosis could change back to bipolar with psychosis.

A diagnosis is not permanant. If your mental health problems have changes or evolved, then chances are that your diagnosis will change too. Also, doctors have different opinions than other doctors. Although, I have had the same diagnosis from 4 different doctors. So, schizoaffective it is.

I hope this helps.

[Mercury Man]

It might be possible that bipolar psychosis can evolve into schizoaffective.

[patches4.0]

For what it's worth I was dianosed with Major Depression for years before getting the schizoaffective diagnosis. They often change as your symptoms change.

Patches