title: Fifteen-year follow-up of ICD-10 schizoaffective disorders compared with schizophrenia and affective disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The nosological status of schizoaffective disorders is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to compare ICD-10 schizoaffective disorders to schizophrenia and affective disorders with respect to the clinical picture and the long-term outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty-one first-admitted inpatients from the years 1980-1982 who fulfilled the ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective or affective disorders were included. Patients were examined at the time of first hospitalization and then followed-up after 15 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With respect to the clinical picture at the time of first hospitalization ICD-10 schizoaffective disorders were distinguishable from both schizophrenia and affective disorders. However, with respect to the long-term outcome ICD-10 schizoaffective disorders had a prognosis similar to that of affective disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differing prognosis implies that schizoaffective disorders should be distinguished from schizophrenia and suggests their subcategorization under affective disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. markus.jaeger@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottlender
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index