advancedschizoaffective disorderschizophrenia differentialpsychotic disordersmood-psychosis overlapDSM-5-TR criteria
A 29-year-old male has a 6-year psychiatric history. He has experienced three distinct major depressive episodes during which auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions intensify. However, chart review reveals that between these depressive episodes, he continues to hear voices and maintains a fixed belief that his coworkers are surveilling him — these psychotic symptoms persist for months during periods when his mood is euthymic. During his most recent euthymic period lasting 4 months, he required ongoing antipsychotic treatment for persistent hallucinations and delusions. He has never experienced a manic episode.