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Schizophrenia is a medical illness that causes strange thinking,
abnormal feelings, and unusual behavior. It is an uncommon
psychiatric illness in children and is hard to recognize in its
early phases. The behavior of children and teens with schizophrenia
may differ from that of adults with this illness.
Mounting evidence indicates that schizophrenia has
neurodevelopmental roots. The appearance of schizophrenic symptoms
before age 12 is rare (less than one-sixtieth as common as the
adult-onset type), but studying these cases is important for an
understanding of this disorder.
Neurodevelopmental damage seems to be greater in childhood
schizophrenia than in the adult-onset type. Most schizophrenic
children show delays in language and other functions long before
their psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, and disordered
thinking) appear, usually at age seven or later. In the first years
of life, about 30% of these children have transient symptoms of
pervasive developmental disorder, such as rocking, posturing, and
arm flapping. Childhood home movies indicate uneven motor
development, such as unusual crawling, in adult-onset schizophrenic
patients. Children with schizophrenia may be even more seriously
impaired in this respect; they are also more anxious and disruptive
than adult-onset schizophrenic patients were as children.
Early Warning Signs:
- trouble discerning dreams from reality
- seeing things and hearing voices that are not real
- confused thinking
- vivid and bizarre thoughts and ideas
- extreme moodiness
- peculiar behavior
- concept that people are “out to get them”
- behaving younger than chronological age
- severe anxiety and fearfulness
- confusing television or movies with reality
- severe problems in making and keeping friends
The behavior of children with this illness may change over time.
The schizophrenic psychosis develops gradually in children, without
the sudden psychotic break that sometimes occurs in adolescents and
adults. Children may begin talking about strange fears and ideas.
They may start to cling to parents or say things that do not make
sense. Children who used to enjoy relationships with others may
become more shy or withdrawn and seem to be in their own world.
Treatment
Early diagnosis and medical treatment are important. Children with
the problems and symptoms listed above must have a complete
evaluation. These children may need individual treatment plans
involving other professionals. A combination of medication and
individual therapy, family therapy, and specialized programs
(school, activities, etc.) is often necessary. Psychiatric
medication can be helpful for many of the symptoms and problems
identified.
Standard antipsychotic drugs appear to be effective for
schizophrenic children and adolescents, and the atypical drug
clozapine is helpful for at least half of those who do not respond
to typical drugs. In a few cases their psychotic symptoms seem to
disappear entirely. Unfortunately, children may be more susceptible
than adults to the toxic effects of clozapine; about one third of
them have to stop taking it because of the side effects. Newer
antipsychotic drugs that may be safer and just as effective are now
being tested.
Parents need to ask their family physician or pediatrician to
refer them to a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is
specifically trained and skilled at evaluating, diagnosing, and
treating children with schizophrenia.
For More
Information:
Contact you local Mental Health Association, community mental
health center, or:
National Mental
Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health
Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
(NARSAD)
60 Cuttermill Rd
Suite 200
Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: (800) 829-8289
Schizophrenics Anonymous
Mental Health in Michigan
15920 W. Twelve Mile
Southfield, MI 48076
Phone: (313) 557-6777
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