title: Schizo-affective psychosis: fact or fiction? A survey of the literature.
abstract: The classification of functional psychoses has traditionally been dichotomous with schizophrenia and manic-depressive disorder, which are considered separate entities. However, the psychiatric literature is replete with descriptions of psychoses with mixed features. A variety of names has been applied to these psychoses, including the term "schizo-affective." Confusion exists regarding the nature of these psychoses, much of it resulting from a tendency to limit investigation to an acute view of symptom complexes.  This article examines the schizo-affective states across a variety of dimensions, including the acute symptomatologic picture, response to lithium carbonate therapy, follow-up studies, family history, and genetics. While the term "schizo-affective," as commonly used, probably describes a heterogeneous group of psychoses, considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that at least a subgroup of these psychoses has a definite relationship to the major affective disorders.
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium