Simona Trifu
University of Bucharest, Romania
Title: Prevalential-delusion functioning in major depressive episode with psychotic phenomena
Biography
Biography: Simona Trifu
Abstract
Motivation: Making a differential diagnosis between schizoaffective disorder with major depressive episode and paranoid schizophrenia is difficult. It is difficult to make a clear difference in this case as the patient is at the threshold of neurotic versus psychotic, the intensity of ideation phenomenon being very high and specific to both disorders, it is required to assess life history information and history of the disorder as well as the emotional presence of the patient in the clinical interview.
Objective: In this case study, we suggest a comparison with specialty literature but also with evaluating a profile of the disorder, marked by a psychiatric illness in which the person shows both affective symptoms (depressive or maniac) and symptoms of schizophrenia (such as delusions, hallucinations).
Hypothesis: Highlighting the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is difficult, symptoms of the patient are oscillating between paranoid elements (paranoid schizophrenia) and affective elements (schizoaffective disorder). These oscillations are based on a fragile ego structure with cognitive rigidity.
Results: The study outlines a personality profile immature-dependent, based on interpretativity, with passive-aggressive elements, sensitivism, sensitivity to rejection, psychotic operation (through the intensity of the feelings of date) and through psychotic elements manifested in the past (auditory hallucinations, as voices). Also, the basis of the transfer and counter transfer elements identified, the emotional resonance is low, with a risk of psychotic decompensation.
Conclusions: Depressive schizoaffective disorder is characterized by presence of both depressive symptoms and those of schizophrenia in the same period. Depressive symptoms include: depressed mood, reduced interest, sluggishness, low energy, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of despair. During the same episode are present symptoms of schizophrenia such as: hallucinations, delusions of control, state of hyper vigilance, delusions injury.