The presentation varies from patient to patient but there are a few items that are commonly assessed in majority of patients with this disorder [6]. Depending on the subtype of the disorder, all or some of the symptoms may be clearly manifested in no particular combinations:

• Eye contact (may be increased, decreased or appropriate)
• Facial expression (may be sad, euphoric or angry. Rarely neutral)
• Motor (possible psychomotor agitation or retardation)
• Appearance (ranges from well-groomed to dishevelled)
• Cooperativeness (patient may be cooperative or uncooperative)
• Mood (may be depressed, euthymic or manic)
• Affect (ranges from appropriate to flat)
• Speech (ranges from poor to lack of ideas or feeling under pressure)
• Suicidal ideation (may be seen or not)
• Homicidal ideation (may or may not be presented)
• Delusions (having false, fixed beliefs)
• Hallucinations (such as hearing of voices)

In most cases, workup may include psychological testing, diagnostic imaging (CT, MRI or EEG) and selected laboratory tests [7].

Laboratory studies that may be performed include the following:

• Sequential multiple analysis
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Lipids
• Rapid plasma reagent
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level 
• Urine drug screen
• Urine pregnancy test
• Urinalysis

The exact cause of schizoaffective disorder remains unknown [2]. A combination of factors may however, contributes to its development. Some of these factors include genetic predisposition, brain chemistry, brain development variations or delays and exposure of fetus to viral illnesses, toxins or birth complications.

The frequency of schizoaffective disorder worldwide is rather difficult to determine because the diagnostic criteria has continued to evolve over the last few years [3]. A study in Finland says the estimated lifetime prevalence of schizoaffective disorder is about 0.32% while a French study puts it at 0.5-0.8%. These numbers are however very rough estimates.

The bipolar subtype of schizoaffective disorder is seen most of the time in young people while older people often have the depressive subtype.

Overall, the condition is more common in women than in men. This is probably due to the fact that women have the depressive subtype instead of the bipolar subtype. Men with schizoaffective disorder often tend to exhibit antisocial traits and behaviour. This is in contrast to other personality traits. Additionally, the age of onset varies in both sexes as it is seen earlier in men. There have not been any observed racial differences.

There is no prevention of the disease as the root cause is still unclear but reoccurrence of symptoms can be prevented using the right medications [10].

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4. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000:319-23.
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8. Ben Amar M, Potvin S. Cannabis and psychosis: what is the link?. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2007 39 (2): 131–42.
9. Kumar S, Kodela S, Detweiler JG, Kim KY, Detweiler MB. Bupropion-induced psychosis: folklore or a fact? A systematic review of the literature. General hospital psychiatry 2011 33 (6): 612–7.
10. Stahl, Stephen M. Essential Psychopharmacology of Antipsychotics and Mood Stabilizers. Cambridge University Press 2002. p. 70. ISBN 0521-89074-8.