Schizophrenia in children is very rare and generally called as serious brain disorder that require immediate medical attention. It involves in range of problems with thinking, behavior or emotions.
Childhood schizophrenia starts at early stage of life that has profound impact on child’s behavior. It results in some combination of hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking and behavior. While symptoms may vary compared to children and adults, but they reflect an impaired ability to function.
This article will focus on signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia in children. To know more information of schizophrenia you have to continue reading.
What Is Childhood Schizophrenia?
Childhood Schizophrenia is a serious psychological disorder that occurs in children below 13 years and it is also known as childhood onset schizophrenia (COS). This condition often leads to abnormal behavior, suspicion and communication problems.
What Causes Schizophrenia In Children?
The exact cause of childhood schizophrenia is unknown, but researchers have said that it develop in a similar way to adult schizophrenia.
According to research, the reasons that may lead to these conditions which are shown below:
1. Genetics
Genetics plays a major role in developing this condition. Scientists have found that the people with schizophrenia have higher rates of genetic mutations that disrupt the development of their brain.
2. Imbalance of Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are important brain chemicals which help in proper functioning of our brain. If there occurs an imbalance of these chemicals in brain, it leads to development of schizophrenia.
3. Childhood Environment
Experts in this field have concluded that environmental factors play a major role in causing schizophrenia. Environmental factors such as weak bonding with mother, poor mothering, early parent loss and even physical and mental abuse in childhood will leads to schizophrenia.
4. Complications
Complications such as respiratory infections, analgesics, rubella virus and malnutrition can also result in developing schizophrenia.
Risk Factors Of Schizophrenia
The risk factors are same as cause of Childhood schizophrenia; some of them are as follows:
- A family history of schizophrenia.
- Family history of other mental illness.
- Malnutrition or exposure to viruses before birth
- Auto immune diseases which causes increased activation of immune system
- Consumption of psychoactive drugs in large amounts by parent during their teenage.
- Chromosomal deletions on chromosomes 1,8,15 and 22.
Now, let’s get into signs and symptoms of childhood schizophrenia.
Signs And Symptoms Of Schizophrenia
Symptoms of schizophrenia in children are similar to symptoms of schizophrenia in adults, but the condition may be harder to recognize. The early indications of childhood schizophrenia include developmental problems such as:
- Late walking
- Language delays
- Late arrival of crawling
- Autism spectrum disorders.
These are early signs in children to recognize the disorder.
Symptoms In Teenager
- Lack of motivation
- Unable to believe in relations
- Drop in school performance
- Always in depression
- Strange behavior
- Trouble in sleeping
- Visual hallucinations
- Irritation
Later Signs And Symptoms in Children
The following are the symptoms which appear after a while; these are more typical signs for the children who are handling schizophrenia:
Delusions: A delusion is nothing but believing false things which are not based on true incidents.
Hallucination: Hallucination is a condition where the children or the teenager begins to imagine the things that don’t exist. These people will have full force and impact of a normal experience.
Abnormal Motor Behavior: this means the behavior of a person is not focused on a particular goal. This includes complete lack of response, abnormal behavior even over silly things and useless and excessive movements.
Disorganized Speech
This generally mean unable to talk or speak effectively. The questions we ask and the answers they give are completely unrelated and unrealistic.
Effects of Schizophrenia
If this condition is left untreated, then the following are the effects where children would face further in their life.
These may range from minor to severe, that are included in the following:
- Self Injury
- Depression
- Poverty
- Homelessness
- Inability to perform daily activities
- Withdrawal with family and friends
- Family conflicts
- Inability to live independently
- Aggressive behavior
- Mood swings
- Inability to visit places
- Suicide
Children who suffer with schizophrenia may also suffer from other mental disorders as well. There are some co-occurring symptoms that had to face by children after the occurrence of schizophrenia.
- Anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Paranoid personality disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Social phobia
Diagnosis Of Schizophrenia In Children
If you recognize any of the symptoms which are shown above, then take children to psychiatrist to check mental health condition of child. Psychiatrist may question you about the child behavior in normal time, daily performance, and family medical history.
Then the doctors undergo with psychological scrutiny of child, examining all thoughts, appearance and emotions.
He may do physical examination of your child to confirm whether he is dealing with schizophrenia or not.
Once it is confirmed, then he goes with the treatment methods.
Treatment For Schizophrenia For Children
There is no complete cure for schizophrenia for any person, no matter whether it’s a child or an adult. But treatment methods will help to manage the condition effectively.
Treatment should undergo with experiencing child psychologist with an understanding of child onset schizophrenia.
The treatment may include a combination of therapies and may vary from child to child depending on their symptoms.
There are three major methods to treat schizophrenia which are as follows:
- Life skill training
- Psychotherapy
- Medication such as antipsychotics
Your doctor may also suggest family therapy to understand the condition of your child to deal with.
If the symptoms of your children are too severe then immediate medical treatment should be given to control his condition. Provide him basic needs like self care and rest which makes him to feel better.
Things To Do For Your Child At Home
There are certain things you need to do for your child to manage his condition and make him/her fell better. The following are some suggestions you need to take care of:
- Always be positive and talk positive
- Make him learn self help strategies
- Try to avoid difficult situations in front of your child
- Don’t forget to give medications on time
- Help them socialize
- Let them sleep well
- Feed him with proper diet.
Apart from all these things, children always need your love and support which help them to recover as soon as possible. Show them love and treat them as a normal people.