Which disorder is characterized as a combination of mood disorder and schizophrenia?

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that includes symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders, such as depression or mania. This overlap distinguishes it from other disorders, as those affected can experience psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusions, alongside significant mood disturbances.

In schizoaffective disorder, the mood symptoms are prominent and can occur concurrently with or independently from psychotic symptoms. For instance, an individual might experience a major depressive episode during a time when they are also having hallucinations. This combination makes schizoaffective disorder particularly complex and requires targeted treatment strategies addressing both the mood symptoms and the psychotic features.

In contrast, major depressive disorder primarily involves mood symptoms without the psychotic features characteristic of schizophrenia. Borderline personality disorder is characterized by unstable moods and behaviors but does not include psychosis as a core symptom, and bipolar disorder, while involving mood changes, does not typically include the psychosis that defines schizoaffective disorder.