Problem: Paraphrase. This represents the primary diagnosis for the patient. Schizoaffective disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms-such as hallucinations and delusions-and mood disorder symptoms, including depression, mania, or the milder form of mania known as hypomania. Hallucinations involve perceiving sights or sounds that are not actually present, while delusions consist of firmly held false beliefs. According to Wy and Saadabadi (2023), the DSM-5 criteria for schizoaffective disorder require the presence of two or more of the following: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and/or negative symptoms such as reduced emotional expression or avolition. In addition, the individual must experience hallucinations or delusions for at least two weeks in the absence of a major mood episode (manic or depressive) during the lifetime course of the illness. Symptoms that meet criteria for a major mood episode must be present for the majority of the total duration of both the active and residual phases of the disorder. The disturbance must not be attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug or medication) or another medical condition. In schizoaffective disorder, mood episodes occur concurrently with the active-phase symptoms of schizophrenia, with at least two weeks of hallucinations or delusions occurring in the absence of prominent mood symptoms, either before or after the mood episode. Need Assignment Help?