What should you know about childhood schizophrenia?
Childhood schizophrenia is an acute mental disorder - pathology causes problems related to thinking and behavior, emotions. Due to the disease, the patient may suffer from hallucinations, delusions.
In essence, children's schizophrenia has the same course as in adult patients, however, in this case, the mental disorder appears much earlier, mainly in the teenage years, and has a serious impact on the growth and development of a small person.
Keep in mind that schizophrenia is a chronic condition, meaning that the disease must be managed throughout life. The treatment process is more effective when the disease is diagnosed at the initial stage.
Early symptoms are:
- Problem of thinking, reasoning;
- Strange thoughts or manner of speaking;
- It is difficult to distinguish reality from a dream or TV show;
- Does not want to communicate with friends or family members;
- Insomnia;
- Has no desire to take care of personal hygiene or change clothes;
- Violence, aggression;
- Irritation;
- Depressed mood;
- Lack of emotions;
- Unusual fear and anxiety;
- Doubts people around.
In the late stage, the symptoms become much worse and pathological motor behavior appears, hallucinations, thoughts are mixed together chaotically, the patient is so empty of emotions that he does not change his facial expression during the conversation.
The exact cause of the disease is unknown, although according to scientists, genetics, environmental factors and chemical changes in the brain play a certain role in the formation of schizophrenia.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354483
