Pharmacological Treatment of Schizoaffective Psychosis

Overview

Schizoaffective psychosis is a common disabling psychiatric illness. Nevertheless, pharmacological treatment of this disorder has not been studied in detail. The author reviewed the availableliterature regarding acute and prophylactic pharmacological treatment of schizoaffective disorders. Based on this review for patients with acute exacerbation of schizoaffective disorders antipsychotics have been the first-line treatment. Their thymoleptic effects in addition toantipsychotic activity seem to be also important. Efficacy of combination of antidepressants andneuroleptics in acute treatment of schizoaffective disorders, depressive type, still remains anopen question. Tricyclic antidepressants often cause deterioration of schizoaffective disorders,however more recent serotoninergic antidepressants are expected to have a beneficial effect. Thepotential value of anticonvulsants and lithium requires further study. Therefore, recent preliminary data have to be verified in controlled trials.

Key words:
schizoaffective disorder, atypical neuroleptics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants.