Modern psychiatry has many different diseases to diagnose patients with. Some of them have almost the same symptoms. One of them is a schizoaffective disorder. This paper aims to discuss the illness and answer the question whether to withdraw it from the next edition of the DSM.
To start with, it is necessary to define a schizoaffective disorder. It is acknowledged to be a mental disease. From its name, it is clear that it combines the features of both schizophrenia and affective disorder. So as to comprehend its difference from the two illnesses, it is necessary to dwell upon its symptoms. Contrary to schizophrenia, a schizoaffective disorder does not involve any alterations in personality. At the same time, affective disturbing is much longer and might be more expressed than the productive symptoms of schizophrenia. The person is diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder if:
- there are symptoms of affective disorders;
- there are symptoms of schizophrenia at the same time; and
- any organic lesion of the brain are excluded (Murru et al., 2016).
What is more, the person is supposed to have at least one of the following symptoms within two weeks:
- auditory hallucinations in the form of voices which give their comments or engage a conversation;
- delirium of control and actions, as well as the feeling of made thoughts, emotions, and movements;
- a feeling of telepathy;
- speech rupture and neologisms;
- stable delirium which is not characteristic of the patient’s subculture; and
- a frequent and passing appearance of catatonic symptoms (Cardno & Owen, 2014).
Thus, it is clear that schizoaffective disorder is characterized by the combination of the symptoms of the both diseases. This fact makes it a separate illness. As for depression, the diseases cannot be mixed up, taken into account the presence of hallucinations and delirium.
In conclusion, it is necessary to claim that schizoaffective disorder cannot be withdrawn from the next edition of the DSM. This is due to the fact, despite it has the same symptoms as the two other illnesses, it combines them in its unique way. Besides, it does not correlate with any other disease to the full extent.
Purpose and Meaning of Life
It feels like that everyone of every sort has asked the question why he/she was born. The meaning of life is an important personal issue. Therefore, I am going to dwell upon my own purpose.
To start with, I’d like to admit that the question of the meaning of my life tends to make me smile. I assume that my main purpose is to be happy. Only happiness fills the life with its meaning. Many people tend to think that happiness is a way. Therefore, they find it necessary strive to put the best foot forward and, literary, catch the happiness. However, happiness is not a point but a road. It is important to be happy about being alive and having a possibility of doing simple things like breathing, walking, and dreaming. In my view, this is what is called the way by heart. I tend to do something not because I need to do it and because I cannot but do it. This is the strongest desire regardless of my own benefits.
If I lied on the deathbed, I would memorize the moments which I spent with the people whom I love and who love me. I would enjoy getting to remember our conversations and smiles, how we supported each other, how we gave each other helpful hands to overcome difficulties. For life to be meaningful, it is crucial to love and to be loved.
To sum it up, I would like to repeat that happiness is the uppermost. Love is a substantial part of happiness. Thus, being happy, love and being loved are the three things which are purposes of life.
References
Cardno, A. G., & Owen, M. J. (2014). Genetic relationships between schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. Schizophrenia Buttetin, 40(3), 504-515.
Murru, A., Manchia, M., Tusconi, M., Carpiniello, B., Pacchiarotti, I., Colom, F., & Vieta, E. (2016). Diagnostic reliability in schizoaffective disorder. Bipolar Disorders: An International Journal of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, 18(1), 78-80.