[mugwort2]

Is it possible to be diagnosed schizophrenic and bipolar and NOT be sza? Please note this is not about me.

[Victoria'smom]

Just the Dr. as far as I know.

[Nix]

I don't know what the latest information from the DSM says, but an older textbook I have says that for schizophrenic episodes to qualify as schizophrenic episodes, mood episodes/disorders have to be absent.

I think two different doctors can give a person two different diagnoses
But usually as a rule of thumb if there's both mania and psychosis it's usually either bipolar 1 or sza.
But it all really depends on the way the symptoms present themselves

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by mugwort2

Is it possible to be diagnosed schizophrenic and bipolar and NOT be sza? Please note this is not about me.

yes you can. short version each mental disorder now has their own distinguishing diagnostic criteria....hypo mania symptoms are not included in schizo affective disorder now. it only includes depressive or mania symptoms.

so if a person has hallucinations, delusions, ...(and meets all the other Schizophrenia symptoms)

depression, hypo mania and mania (bipolar symptoms)

they may receive both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder diagnosis's and may not get the schizo affective disorder diagnosis.