I would be concerned about a psych nurse who gave that definition. The DSM is very clear that it is an affective plus thought disorder. The NP should be very familiar with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the “encyclopedia” of mental health. Now I could understand if she said that the “result” of having schizoaffective might be that antipsychotic meds are not sufficient alone to curb symptoms. That was the case with my sister, whose initial diagnosis was (correctly) schizophrenia, but she required AP plus Lithium to achieve stability. I think schizophrenia is very anxiety-provoking after a person is brought out of the disorganized/catatonic state by APs. However, my sister objected to the schizophrenia label and talked her psychiatrist into BiPolar type 1 (with psychotic features). Many years later another psychiatrist changed that to schizoaffective disorder. She has NEVER been able to function without APs due to delusions and paranoia. BTW, manic-depressive was the original name of the affective disorder and it was later changed to Bipolar.