“Generally, childhood mental illness is uncommon, but several mental disorders generate an awkward situation for the parents. The condition is rare but hard to spot. Severe mental disease in children younger than 13 affects how they deal with the current situation’s reality. At that time, they might have unusual thoughts, misbehaviours, and feelings like loneliness called childhood-onset schizophrenia. If your child has …

Discontinuity from a previous level of functioning.
A blunt, flat, or inappropriate facial expression.
A disturbance in perception.
A loss of sense of self.
Lack of goal-directed activity. Then there may be chances of childhood schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric illness that has its onset in adolescence or early adulthood; occasionally, it is seen in early childhood
It cannot be diagnosed until the speech is sufficiently complete.
Schizophrenia is the problems with disturbed thinking, behavior, or emotions with hallucinations, delusions that impairs the child’s ability and development.

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Positive symptoms

The presence or intensity of any mental function. Confusion, for example, strange language and strange behavior. They are commonly known as cognitive behaviors. The patient may “lose contact” with reality.

Negative symptom

Absence or lack of action, for example, effective agility, decreased flow and thinking, apathy, low voice, etc. Thus, they are associated with behavioral and emotional disturbances that are considered normal.

It is essential to make a differential diagnosis for depression or other mood problems.

Cognitive Symptom

Impairment or impairment of specific cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and executive functions (working memory, speed of thought.

Thus, the patient has difficulty concentrating, understanding information, and making decisions.

Such individuals can avoid action with friends and family for many reasons. The person may already glow with feelings of frustration and helplessness and do not know who to turn In such a situation; it is beneficial for the person to know that they should reach out, not to talk to make them feel frustrated.

You should also read: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For ADHD Child

Is schizophrenia a disability?

Schizophrenia is a disability, but it is not always the case. With effective treatment, including favorable medications and reasonable access to supportive counseling, the affected people can live an everyday life.

Very few schizophrenic patients can pass for ‘normal’ people under extensive screening; It is possible that some strange behaviors and behaviors also occur during social interactions, even during periods of relative health.

However, people with mild forms of schizophrenia can often work and live independently (despite some unique conveniences and levels of performance that are lower than their pre-disease (pre-illness) status). Although some people experience only mild symptoms during their illness,

Unfortunately, many people with schizophrenia experience severe to moderate symptoms, which can only partially help with medical treatment. Lifelong disability can result in varying degrees, affecting both patients and their families.

What not to say to someone with schizophrenia?

Person with schizophrenia needs a supportive environment for recovery.

A person’s friends and family can create a supportive environment by being aware of the clutter and helping the person when needed.

A person with schizophrenia falls back and separates due to illness. It becomes complicated for them to identify the problem and ask for help. Here, external stimuli are needed to help a person move forward in a more practical way of life.

Then whether it is practicality or pure connection – recovery is essential to help. Keeping in touch with people, healthy social interaction can be beneficial for individuals with schizophrenia to overcome their isolation.

Causative factors childhood schizophrenia

Childhood schizophrenia is a sporadic disease; an exact cause is unknown.
Higher incidence among children of lower-class families than the general population.
Due to faulty communication patterns in family-like fathers and mothers, they create a confusing situation for the child to do or not to do.
In some cases genetic factors are responsible.

How to assess childhood schizophrenia?

By the following questionnaire, we can assess childhood schizophrenia.

History taking from Parents

Is there any false belief that seems into the child with no basis?
Are there any auditory illusions reported in a child? e.g., voices “inside my head.”
Is there any Disturbed behavior, panic reactions, temper tantrums?
Is there any problem with verbalizations?
Is there any discontinuity from the previous level of functioning?
Is there any repetitive speech of a child
Does the child have a loosening of thought association?

Disturbance in Perception

Are there any auditory hallucinations?
Is there any hypersensitivity to sound, sight, and smell?

Disturbances in Affect

Are there any Panic reactions or temper tantrums?
May it have a blunt or flat affect most of the time?
Is there any distorted sense of self?
Are there any disturbing clear ego boundaries?
Is the child confused about orientation in time and space?
Is the child having ritualistic behavior? e.g., Touching particular doors or Furniture before entering the room.

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Treatment of schizophrenia

Pharmacotherapy Management

Antipsychotic agents, which are most effective in its treatment of schizophrenia.
Conventional antipsychotics are used due to fewer side effects.
Some non-compliant patients may receive fluphenazine or Haloperidol depot formulations. These are long-acting IM doses that release the drug gradually over several weeks.

Conventional antipsychotics drugs name for childhood chizophrenia

Chlorpromazine
Fluphenazine decanoate
Haloperidol
Trifluoperazine
A typical antipsychotics control a more comprehensive range of signs and symptoms than traditional agents do and cause few or no adverse motor effects.
Clozapine may cause agranulocytosis – A potentially fatal blood disorder marked by a low white blood cell count and pronounced neutrophil depletion. A patient receiving Clozapine requires routine blood monitoring to detect the disease because it is reversible if caught early.

Commonly used atypical antipsychotics drugs name for childhood

Clozapine
Risperidone
Olanzapine
Ziprasidone

Other drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia are antidepressants, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, etc.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Indication for ECT in schizophrenia includes:

Catatonic stupor
Uncontrolled catatonic excitement
Sever side effects with drugs

Usually, 8-12 ECTs are needed

List of therapy

Group therapy
Behavior therapy
Social skills training
Cognitive therapy
Family therapy

Childhood Schizophrenia will get better with proper diagnosis and treatment. Take action early. Your child may be able to manage it as they grow into an adult.

Conclusion

Childhood schizophrenia seems in a child younger than 13 years of age. The child is having delusions, hallucinations, blunt affect, inappropriate facial expression. Antipsychotic drugs, in severe case ECT, and group therapy is the treatment of option for the childhood schizophrenia.

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Schizophrenia: Is Schizophrenia a Disability?

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