In schizoaffective disorder, which feature is true?

• A. Mood symptoms present for the majority of the illness with a period of psychosis without mood symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks.
• B. There must be no mood symptoms at any time.
• C. Psychosis is present only during mood episodes.
• D. It is diagnosed when there is psychosis without mood symptoms.

Answer: (A)

Schizoaffective disorder blends ongoing psychotic symptoms with mood disturbance, and a key feature is that mood symptoms are present for most of the illness while there is a period of psychosis without mood symptoms lasting at least two weeks. This shows that psychotic symptoms can occur independently of mood, which is essential for the diagnosis. It also distinguishes schizoaffective disorder from schizophrenia (where mood symptoms aren’t a major part of the illness) and from a mood disorder with psychotic features (where psychosis occurs only during mood episodes). So, the statement that mood symptoms predominate, with a separate two-week window of psychosis without mood symptoms, best captures the defining pattern.