Schizophrenia
This is a serious illness that causes changes in thinking, feelings, and unusual and strange behavior. Though it may be uncommon in children, it is important to catch this in its early stages. The symptoms in the early stages might be difficult to recognize and become more prominent in the adolescent and young adult years, making it difficult to catch early. Causes of the schizophrenia in children are not known; researchers believe it is a combination of brain changes, biochemical causes, and genetic and environmental causes.
Symptoms of schizophrenia in children are not the same as the symptoms seen in adults. The following can occur in children or adolescents with schizophrenia:
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Hallucinations: seeing things and hearing voices that are not real
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Odd and eccentric behavior and/or speech
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Unusual or bizarre thoughts and ideas
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Confusing television and dreams from reality
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Confused thinking
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New academic problems
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Extreme moodiness
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Personality changes
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Paranoia: ideas that people are out to get them or talking about them
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Severe anxiety and fearfulness
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Difficulty relating to peers and/or keeping friends
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Withdrawal and increased isolation
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Decrease in personal hygiene
Children's behavior may change over time and is usually noticed by teachers first. For instance, they might notice that the child has changed from being talkative to shy, or they might find the child having strange ideas and fears or saying things that do not make sense. Children with these symptoms need to have a thorough evaluation done by a mental health professional who has been trained to diagnose and treat such condition. A trained and expert professional should be able to differentiate cultural beliefs from unusual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as some cultural ideas might seem strange to some.
Treating children with schizophrenia often involves a combination of medication, individual therapy, family therapy, and specialized programs. Psychiatric medication can be helpful for many symptoms of the illness but requires careful monitoring by a mental health professional.