Schizoaffective disorder a disease of the brain

Schizoaffective disorder a disease of the brain is a chronic condition that often requires lifelong medication to treat. As gunfire reverberated in the streets surrounding our building last Friday morning, employees across Brigham and Women’s Hospital turned the hallways dark, locked office doors, and sheltered in place alongside frightened patients and colleagues.

The tragic events that unfolded that morning left one hospital valet team member injured and another man dead. While details of the incident are still emerging, early media reports suggest at the heart of this tragedy lies an individual battling a serious and chronic mental illness — schizoaffective disorder.

During acute episodes, patients experience mood fluctuations and psychosis, including hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking.

A less well-blown symptom of this disorder is anosognosia, or the lack of awareness and insight into their illness. This lack of insight is a reason many individuals refuse or stop taking their medications.