What Is Childhood Schizophrenia? What Causes Childhood Schizophrenia?

What Is Childhood Schizophrenia? What Causes Childhood Schizophrenia?
Main Category: Schizophrenia
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health; Psychology / Psychiatry; Genetics
Article Date: 17 Jun 2010 - 0:00 PDT

Childhood schizophrenia, also known as childhood-onset schizophrenia or early-onset schizophrenia is basically the same as schizophrenia in adults, but its onset occurs earlier in life. In some cases the patient may be ten years old, or even younger. Childhood schizophrenia can have a serious impact on the child's ability to function properly.

Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric illness. The patient experiences strange thoughts, strange feelings, and abnormal behavior. Schizophrenia is rare in children and difficult to recognize during its early phases.

Experts are not sure what the causes of schizophrenia are. Recent studies suggest a combination of factors, including brain changes, as well as biochemical, environmental and genetic factors may play a part.

Schizophrenia cannot be cured with modern medicine and therapies. However, it can be controlled.

A child with schizophrenia may have gradual changes in behavior - a child who was once clearly enjoying relationships with others may begin to become withdrawn and shy, and appear to be in a world of their own. They child may start talking about unusual ideas and fears. They may become clingy (with their parents) and say things that do not make any sense. Sometimes the schoolteacher may be the first person to notice the signs symptoms.

A child with schizophrenia may have hallucinations, delusions, irrational thinking, bizarre behavior, difficulties performing everyday tasks, such as washing.

Early age onset of schizophrenia poses special challenges for diagnosis, treatment and personal development.

Childhood schizophrenia is sometimes grouped together with similar conditions, known collectively as schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Early-onset schizophrenia starts when the child is aged between 13 and 18 years. Very early-onset schizophrenia starts when the child is aged 12 years or less.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Schizophrenia?
A symptom is something the patient senses and describes, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor notice. For example, drowsiness may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

The child may:
.See things that are not there - visual hallucinations (much less common than hearing things)
..Hear things that do not exist - auditory hallucinations
...Appear to lack emotion
....Have emotions which do not go with the situation
.....Be socially withdrawn
......Not do well at school
.......Care for himself/herself poorly
........Have bizarre eating rituals
.........Speak in an incoherent way
..........Have illogical thoughts
...........Be agitated

When symptoms start very early they tend to grow very gradually. Parents and family members may initially aware of something that is wrong, but cannot define it clearly and usually put them down to a developmental phase the child is going through. However, the signs do not go away, they gradually become more noticeable. The child may eventually develop symptoms of psychosis, which may include delusions, hallucinations and disordered thoughts. Eventually the disordered thoughts may lead to a break from reality, causing distress to the child and his/her family.

What Is Childhood Schizophrenia? What Causes Childhood Schizophrenia?