A follow up study of schizoaffective psyohosis: an appraisal of socio-clinical and diagnostic aspects.

Sociodemographic, clinical and outcome characteristics of 29 cases who had the diagnosis of schizoaffective psychosis were studied. On the basis of longitudinal course of the illness, 2 distinct subgroup of patients could be delineated. Patients with episodic illness were more akin to affective disorders while those with continuous course of illness were conceptually closer to schizophrenia. Concordance of the ICD-9 diagnosis of these patients with other well known diagnostic systems tike Research Diagnostic Criteria, DSM-III-R and proposed ICD-10 was studied. Advantages and limitations of these diagnostic systems with regard to the diagnosis of schizoaffective psychosis are discussed.