What is the difference between schizophrenia and severe depression with psychotic features?

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It appears to me that the two diagnoses are very similar..could it be that severe depression with psychotic episodes is a more conservative diagnisis than schizophrenia? Maybe the first step of diagnosis for schizophrenia? Insight please, and try to explain your answers as in depth as possible.
Depression is not part of the diagnositic criteria for schizophrenia, although many schizophrenics do have depression. You might find this description helpfull:

http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/schiz.htm  (+ info)

Could schizophrenia be misdiagnosed as mere depression (without psychotic features)?

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I ask this because I believe I am misdiagnosed. Though I cant be certain after all Im not a doctor.
Well, have you experienced delusions or hallucinations? Do you sometimes speak insensibly or have no facial expression? Do you have social problems? Apathy? Lack of pleasure in things that used to make you happy? Do you go off on tangents or feel inappropriate emotions for a situation?

You don't have to say yes to all of those--very few schizophrenics would have all of those. If those questions raise your suspicions, get a second opinion. Schizophrenia is a pretty broad category as far as psychological disorders go.

It may be more likely that you have schizotypal disorder rather than schizophrenia. It's a more subdued version of schizophrenia, and a lot of people with it meet the criteria for major depression.

Do some research, and if you still think you are misdiagnosed, search for a second opinion.  (+ info)

are schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder both psychotic disorders?

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No, schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder. Dissociative identity disorder is a dissociative disorder.  (+ info)

If Brief psychotic disorder lasts for more than a month does that make it schizophrenia?

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all these different psychotic disorders are confusing me a bit, sorry if it sounds like i keep asking the same question.
Maybe. By definition, Brief Psychotic Disorder is a psychotic episode that lasts between 1 day and one month. Psychotic features can be a part of mood disorders with psychotic features or schizoaffective disorder, so psychotic symptoms lasting over a month does not necessarily mean schizophrenia.  (+ info)

what is the specific difference between psychotic depression and schizoaffective and schizophrenia?

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I have Psychotic Depression, but I would like to know specifically what is the difference between these disorders. All I can find so far the difference being the insight and depression, but there has to be more to it than that, because if there isnt, it is such a fine line between them. I would like some different insight and information from you all. It would help me a bunch to try to explain it to my skeptical family.
In depression with psychotic features, a person's depression is accompanied by delusions or hallucinations. Often these are filled with self-hate or expectations of being punished. (Delusions are patently absurd or falsifiable thoughts; hallucinations are seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or otherwise sensing things that are not there.) The primary issue is a depressed mood and the consequent symptoms (poor sleep, appetite, lack of pleasure, low-self-esteem, low sexual drive, suicidal ideation, difficulty concentrating, etc.). Like most depressions, a depressive episode with psychotic features is usually time-limited, and one can usually emerge from the episode to achieve full recovery.

Schizophrenia is a more pure thought disorder that affects about 1% of the US population. It involves extremely disorganized thinking, delusions, hallucinations, social problems, difficulty maintaining employment, and generally poor overall functioning.

Schizoaffective disorder is diagnosed when someone has schizophrenia but with a co-occurring depression or mania.

Most people find that schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are much more long-lasting, usually life-long. The primary problem with both of them is the thought disorder.  (+ info)

In psychotic disorders, does the psychosis generally cause the delusions, or are they separate?

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For instance, could a person believe that his boss was trying to kill him, would that be a result of hallucinations or something else? If a person has Major Depression with Psychotic Features, are their delusions mainlly a result of low- self worth/ feeling overly guilty about things, or is it usually because of the psychosis?
A person fearing someone were out to hurt them would fall under paranoia. Hallucinations include things that are heard or seen or felt such as bugs or voices. Delusions are exaggerations of real life instances such as someone believing that they are best friends with a famous person when in reality they are just a big fan. Or them believing that they will make millions writing a song. They may write, but it is probably unlikely they will become a millionare. I would say that delusions and hallucinations are a result of psychosis. The feelings that you mentioned are signs of depression, but are not necessarily delusions and definitely not hallucinations.  (+ info)

What's the difference between Schizophrenia and Brief psychotic disorder?

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Is it just that brief psychotic disorder is only about a month? If it lasts longer than a month is it schizophrenia?
also, if psychosis included social withdrawal and odd behavior does that then make it schizophrenia?
sorry i've been looking at the illnesses and they're making me confused :/
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder where a person is unable to tell the differences between real and unreal experiences, and to have a normal emotional response.Hallucinations and delusions are one of the major symptoms. Currently from what I know there is no cure for Schizophrenia.

Brief psychotic disorder is a short term disorder. The person usually has experienced a major symptom of psychosis (or the loss of contact with reality). Hallucinations and delusions are also symptoms of brief psychotic disorder.

So, to answer your question i think that there is no difference other than the fact that brief psychotic disorder is temporary and only lasts about a month, while Schizophrenia can last years and has no cure.

Hope it helped, =)  (+ info)

What's the difference between schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and bipolar disorder w/psychotic features?

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What's the difference between schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and bipolar disorder w/psychotic features?
Diagnosing is hard :p
You guys are probably way better at it than me.
Everyone got their DSM-IV-TR out? Okay, what've you got?
With Bipolar Disorder delusions and hallucinations are possible ONLY when the person is either VERY deeply depressed or VERY Manic.. in other words at the very far extremes of the spectrum. With Schizoaffective disorder the person has the true mood swings of Bipolar but has hhallucinations or delusions at any time, not just when manic or depressed. It is thought to be a combination of Bipolar and Schizophrenia.  (+ info)

Positive and negative symptoms for schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder?

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My question is can people who have schizophrenia be completely relieved of positive symptoms due to taking anti psychotics, but still have negative symptoms linger? In all my reading I haven't found the answer. So if someone who knows could help me out it would be appreciated.


Thanks.
Yes, absolutely. Residual Schizophrenia is designed as exactly that -- absence of hallucinations and other positive symptoms, with some emotional withdrawal.  (+ info)

Does anyone else have major depression with psychotic features?

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I have major depression with psychotic features, obsessive compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. I started to become depressed with i was around 12 and it has just gotten worse. I began having psychotic features when i was 16 and they continue to get more severe and more frequent. Does anyone else have major depression with psychotic features? Why kind of psychotic features do you have? How long do they last? What are they of?
I just have depression ~are you in therapy? have you had classes as to how to channel out some of the psychosis♦  (+ info)

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