title: Performance improvement CME: schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: Correctly diagnosing schizoaffective disorder depends on having an accurate history of the patient's signs and symptoms, including documentation from medical and psychiatric records and information gathered from patients and their family members or caregivers. Placing the patient's symptoms within a diagnostic framework helps to differentiate schizoaffective disorder from other psychotic disorders so that an individualized, evidence-based treatment plan can be formulated. Clinicians should monitor treatment adherence, which is closely correlated with treatment outcomes; using multiple, objective measures to assess adherence is optimal. This performance improvement activity provides opportunities to improve strategies for diagnosing schizoaffective disorder, individualizing treatment, and assessing and managing medication nonadherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, Bronx, New York, USA.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kane
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008499:Medical Records; D055118:Medication Adherence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology