Schizophrenia is a mental illness that lasts for a long time and disturbs the normal functioning of the brain. Childhood schizophrenia is a rare but severe psychotic disorder in which children and patients interpret reality abnormally. It involves a range of changes in behavior, perception, and emotions. Childhood schizophrenia usually starts before the age of 13. It results in hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking (when combined, it’s called psychosis) and behavior that impacts the normal functioning of the brain. In this blog, we will see the causes and signs of schizophrenia in children and childhood schizophrenia treatment.
Definition of Child Schizophrenia
Childhood schizophrenia is an uncommon but severe mental disorder that begins before your child is 13 years old. A child with this disease displays strange behavior, feels differently, and behaves abnormally. The child cannot differentiate between reality and delusions. Childhood schizophrenia symptoms also include psychosis, and movement and thought disorders. Experiencing psychosis means having vague ideas, thoughts, and emotions that are not based on reality.
It is a very rare disease. It is not commonly found among children. Almost 1 out of 10,000 kids have schizophrenia in children.
What are the other names for Childhood Schizophrenia?
Childhood schizophrenia has more than one name. It is also known as child-onset schizophrenia, early-onset schizophrenia, or childhood-onset schizophrenia. Childhood-onset schizophrenia develops before the age of 13 which is slightly different from early-onset schizophrenia which begins in adolescence.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia in Kids
Childhood schizophrenia interferes with the things of your child including memories, senses, behaviors, and thoughts. It made him see things that were not real and caused hallucinations. There are various symptoms of schizophrenia in children. Let’s have a look at the signs of childhood schizophrenia which are considered to be the reason for this disorder.
- Hallucinations: Seeing things and hearing voices that are not there.
- Unusual thoughts and ideas in mind all the time
- Confused thinking
- Extreme moodiness
- Extreme anxiety and fearfulness
- Paranoia: Ideas that people are talking about them
- Difficulty relating to friends and keeping them
- Long periods where they are sluggish and not active
- Delusions: They cannot tell the difference between reality and dreams
- A lack of emotional expression when they speak
Some children who develop schizophrenia go through a period called a prodrome or prodromal phase. Schizophrenia in children symptoms might cause withdrawal from daily life, more anxiety, and less interest in school or friends. These symptoms don’t need to be a sign of psychotic disorder but it is good to have an appointment with your doctor.
Causes of Schizophrenia in Children
Schizophrenia has no single reason. It is always caused by multiple reasons or sometimes the reason is unknown. A combination of genes from both parents plays a role in the development of schizophrenia in kids. Researchers have found some factors that play a role in child onset schizophrenia which include brain development issues before birth, birth complications, pregnancy complications like malnutrition, and loss of connection between different parts of the brain of the child before birth.
These are the factors that are considered to be the cause of schizophrenia in kids, but sometimes there is no reason at all. It can also be inherited from one of the parents. Different concerns arise with the development of schizophrenia in children.
Complications Related to Childhood Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia in children affects their daily lives and causes various effects on their minds and thoughts. This disorder affects the different cognitive aspects of their lives such as learning, productivity, relationships, and memory. There is no cure for schizophrenia for your child. After growing up, your child may exhibit the signs of schizophrenia. But with proper medication management for schizophrenia, you can control the situation of your child.
Can a Child be Diagnosed with Schizophrenia?
Your child must have symptoms of childhood schizophrenia for more than 6 months for a psychiatrist to diagnose your child. It is difficult to diagnose because many healthy children have hallucinations and delusions. However, some overlapping symptoms lead to psychosis, including medical and psychiatric illnesses. Your doctor will have to go through these conditions. Medical conditions include infections, metabolic disorders, and many more. Psychiatric disorders include depression, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, OCD, and many more.
What Tests Will be Done to Diagnose Childhood Schizophrenia?
A combination of physical and mental health tests are used to diagnose schizophrenia in children. Your child’s psychiatrist can perform different tests which include:
Imaging Testing: Computed Tomography(CT) scan or MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) is used to check for strokes, brain tumors, etc.
Blood and Urine Test: Used to look for chemical changes in bodily fluids that help in understanding changing behavior.
Brain activity testing: It detects and records electrical activity in the brain, and helps in finding conditions like epilepsy and psychosis which is a major sign for childhood schizophrenia.
Childhood Schizophrenia Treatment
Treatment for this disorder depends on the age of the child and signs of schizophrenia in kids. Different types of children have different treatments, totally depending on their condition. It is a lifelong disease and requires expert advice to take control of your disease.
Usually, a combination of medication and therapies is used for the treatment of schizophrenia in kids. Medication and therapies are beneficial if used both at one time and simultaneously in a controlled environment.
Medication
Medication can be changed over time depending on the situation and age of your child. No medicine is purely used for treating schizophrenia but some medicines help in controlling it.
Medicines that help to minimize hallucinations and delusions are given to the children. But medication management is really necessary because these medicines sometimes are also used for managing severe anxiety ie.e GAD(general anxiety disorder), or specific phobia.
Medicines for managing mood are also used for controlling childhood schizophrenia. Schizophrenia also affects your mood and causes mood disorder and bipolar disease.
Other Treatments
Individual and Family Therapy: This may include behavioral and supportive therapy. It is also used for treating MDD(major depressive disorder).
Structured Activity Programs: This includes social skills training, and involves speech and language therapy. It helps in managing anxiety and ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Support Groups: They help in building self-esteem and finding ways to cope with mood change and ultimately schizophrenia.
Orange Coast Psychiatry
At Orange Coast Psychiatry, we provide telehealth services for managing schizophrenia in children. While there is no specific treatment for childhood schizophrenia, we provide the ways and medicines to minimize its effects and demolish its stigma on your child. Contact us today and give your child the life he/ she deserves.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of your child can help you manage the situation more effectively. Early treatment is crucial for your child in helping limit psychotic effects. A child with this disorder exhibits abnormal behavior and experiences hallucinations and delusions. Treatment for childhood schizophrenia involves a combination of therapy and medication. Ongoing treatment can help your child in long-term success.
