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Childhood Mental Health: Schizophrenia
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Description
Childhood schizophrenia is a medical illness that causes abnormal thought
and behaviour, usually appearing between the age of 7 and adolescence.
It is an uncommon psychiatric illness in children and difficult to recognise
in its early phases. The cause is unknown, although genetic, environmental
and chemical theories have been proposed.
The behaviour of children and adolescents with schizophrenia may differ
from that of adults with this illness. Childhood schizophrenia is more
similar in many respects to schizophrenia in late adolescence/early adulthood.
Symptoms and Signs
Child and adolescent psychiatrists look for several of the following
early warning signs in youngsters with schizophrenia:
- Trouble telling dreams from reality.
- Seeing things and hearing voices which are not real (hallucinations).
- Confused thinking.
- Vivid and bizarre thoughts and ideas.
- Extreme moodiness.
- Odd behaviour.
- Paranoid delusions (ideas that people are "out to get them").
- Behaving like a younger child.
- Severe anxiety and fearfulness.
- Confusing television with reality.
- Severe problems in making and keeping friends.
The behaviour of children with schizophrenia may change slowly over time.
For example, children who used to enjoy relationships with others may
start to become more shy or withdrawn and seem to be in their own world.
Sometimes youngsters will begin talking about strange fears and ideas
and, like in adult schizophrenia, may develop hallucinations, delusions,
and paranoia. The child may start to cling to parents or say things which
do not make much sense.
These early problems may first be noticed by the child's school teachers.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric illness. A doctor bases the diagnosis
on the symptoms. No diagnostic tests are available, but children with
the problems and symptoms listed above must have a complete evaluation,
which includes searches for evidence of drug abuse, exposure to toxic
substances, and brain injury.
Usually schizophrenic children need individual treatment plans involving
other professionals. A combination of and individual ,
family therapy, and specialised programs (school, activities, etc.) is
often necessary. Psychiatric medication can be helpful for many of the
symptoms and problems identified. These medications require careful monitoring
by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, as children are very susceptible
to the side-effects of antipsychotic medication.
The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken
from the following source(s):
1.
Based on the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
"Facts for Families" series: http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/
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Last modified:
Jun 25 2002
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Introduction
