Diagnostic Criteria for Schizoaffective Disorder
  1. An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is either a Major Depressive Episode, a Manic Episode, or a Mixed Episode concurrent with symptoms that meet Criterion A for Schizophrenia.

    Note: The Major Depressive Episode must include Criterion A1: depressed mood.

  2. During the same period of illness, there have been delusions or hallucinations for at least two weeks in the absence of prominent mood symptoms.

  3. Symptoms that meet criteria for a mood episode are present for a substantial portion of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness.

  4. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
Source: APA, 1994.
Last Updated: 2-Jan-97
©1996-1997 W. H. Freeman and Company