Schizoaffective disorder is a serious mental illness that has features resembling both schizophrenia and a severe mood disorder. Someone struggling with schizoaffective disorder is likely to display symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions in addition to symptoms of a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder or depressive disorders. These mood symptoms may include feelings of worthlessness, inability to concentrate, depressed mood, elevated mood, pressured speech, and impulsive behaviors.
Schizoaffective disorder can severely impact an individual’s life as the symptoms of the mood disorder may combine with the symptoms of schizophrenia to form a spectrum of thoughts and behaviors far outside of what is considered to be normal.
At Abilene, we understand the challenges of coping with schizoaffective disorder and are ready to use our expertise in the field of behavioral health to work alongside you so that you begin to lead a life filled with hope and joy.
Why You Should Consider Inpatient Treatment at Abilene
Research has shown that the best treatment for schizoaffective disorder is a combination of medications and therapies. At Abilene, our caring staff has created a safe and secure environment for you to work through your problems, manage your medications, and learn the coping skills you need to be successful.
As a leader in the behavioral health field, Abilene strives to stabilize the symptoms you experience, treat any other co-occurring disorders, and help you get your life back. As the symptoms of schizoaffective disorder can cause great complications such as unemployment, strained familial relationships, financial problems, as well as emotional problems, we’re ready to treat the spectrum of symptoms and problems you experience. We’re ready to help you get your life back together.
Program Philosophy and Benefits
Abilene Behavioral Health strives to do right by each person who comes to us for help. We will spend a great deal of time getting to know you and the challenges you face in order to best create a treatment plan that addresses your concerns. We know that diagnosis and treatment aren’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and we’re willing to put our expertise into ensuring you receive the best care available.
We employ only the most up-to-date proven methods of treatment available in a comfortable and secure environment. You will always have a staff member to turn to when you need us most. Instead of focusing on treating your symptoms, our spectrum of care ensures that we treat the whole individual.
Treatment of Schizoaffective Disorder at Abilene
When you come to us, we will begin our complete evaluation process to ascertain the problems you’re specifically coping with. This allows us to obtain the best picture of your needs and work alongside you to create a treatment plan that really works for you. We’ll continue to assess your progress throughout your stay, ensuring that you’re meeting and exceeding the goals you set for yourself in your treatment plan. At the same time doing whatever we can to make sure that you’re receiving the best possible care for your schizoaffective disorder.
After your initial evaluation, it will be determined what types of medication you may need that will allow your symptoms to subside and let you focus on your recovery. Medications are often used in the management of schizoaffective disorder to allow you the best possible recovery.
Most individuals with schizoaffective disorder benefit from the usage of antipsychotic medications to address the symptoms of schizophrenia that are present. These medications will help you focus on your recovery and prevent relapses. Typical antipsychotic medications are older classes of the drug that may work but often cause serious side effects. Atypical antipsychotics are a newer formulation of the same drug class and tend to work more effectively without the risk of serious side effects. Individuals who are experiencing depressive symptoms along with the symptoms of schizophrenia may be treated with an antidepressant as well as an antipsychotic. Individuals experiencing bipolar symptoms alongside the symptoms of schizophrenia may benefit from the addition of mood-stabilizers or anticonvulsants in addition to an antipsychotic. In addition to medication, therapies may be utilized to help you learn the coping skills you need to recover.
Individual therapy is used to address the way you’re coping with your schizoaffective disorder and work through the problems it has caused in your life. You’ll focus on symptom management, adherence to medications, interpersonal relationship problems, stress management, socialization, and coping skills.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to target symptoms of psychosis by challenging the irrational beliefs you may have with more rational and constructive thoughts. This can, in turn, help manage any problematic behaviors.
Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) works to put you in the driver’s seat and the one in charge of your recovery. It seeks to address emotional and behavioral problems so that you can make the changes necessary for your continued recovery and happiness.
Group therapy is very effective for people who have schizoaffective disorder as it allows you to connect with other individuals who are experiencing similar challenges in a safe and non-judgmental manner. Process groups will allow you to discuss your challenges about a given topic – such as schizoaffective disorder or symptom management – in a supportive and empathetic environment. Psychoeducational groups will serve to provide information about medications, side effects of medications, and mental illness.
As schizoaffective disorder can lead to many problems in your relationships, at Abilene, we attempt to include family and loved ones in your treatment. Family sessions will strive to educate your loved ones about your disorder and treatment as well as provide your loved ones the opportunity to discuss ways in which your illness has affected them. We will work to connect your loved ones with outside resources to allow for their continued healing.
In addition to standard therapies, Abilene Behavioral Health offers a number of experiential therapies to compliment your progress. These may include:
- Music therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Recreational programs
- Spiritual counseling
- A.A. and N.A.
Continuing Care – What Comes Next?
Before you are discharged from our inpatient facility, we will collaborate with you to develop an aftercare plan to meet your additional treatment goals. Many people opt to enter into our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) as a step-down from our inpatient treatment center. Other people are discharged home with a clear plan to work on their recovery on an outpatient basis in our outpatient clinic. Whatever you decide, Abilene will make sure that you have a plan that meets your continuing recovery needs before you are discharged.
If you or someone you love is struggling with schizoaffective disorder, please call one of our licensed clinicians at Abilene for a free confidential consultation. We will work with you to determine the next steps.