Childhood Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental illness which affects millions of people throughout the world. Scientists have begun to understand more and more about the possible causes, predisposing factors, types, and possible treatments for schizophrenia. (Torrey, 1995) It is very rare for schizophrenic symptoms to appear before the age of 12 but it does occur. Recently, there has been a growing interest in childhood schizophrenia. It is less than one-sixtieth as common as the adult-onset type but the characteristics are very similar. Childhood schizophrenia also tends to be harder to treat and to have a worse prognosis than the adult-onset form. (Rapoport, 1997)
Childhood schizophrenia is seen as simply an early version of the adult-disease but it stems from a more severe brain disruption. (Bower, 1997) "Approximately two males are affected for every female. Only about two percent of individuals with schizophrenia have the onset of their disease in childhood". (Torrey, 1995) This depends on where the childhood-adult line is drawn. Schizophrenia beginning before age five is exceedingly rare, and between ages five and ten it increases slowly. From age ten, schizophrenia increases in incidence until age fifteen, when it begins its sharp upward peak as the adult disease. (Torrey, 1995) There has been mounting evidence found that schizophrenia, similar to autism, has neurodevelopmental roots. More neurodevelopment damage has been seen in childhood schizophrenia than in the adult-onset type. Usually by age seven or later, many children with schizophrenia show delays in language and other functions. This occurs long before their psychotic symptoms develop, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Research shows that 30% of these children show passing signs of prevalent developmental disorder in the first few years of life. They show display symptoms such as rocking, posturing, and arm flapping. (Rapoport, 1997)
The adult-onset schizophrenic patients
Childhood schizophrenia is seen as simply an early version of the adult-disease but it stems from a more severe brain disruption. (Bower, 1997) "Approximately two males are affected for every female. Only about two percent of individuals with schizophrenia have the onset of their disease in childhood". (Torrey, 1995) This depends on where the childhood-adult line is drawn. Schizophrenia beginning before age five is exceedingly rare, and between ages five and ten it increases slowly. From age ten, schizophrenia increases in incidence until age fifteen, when it begins its sharp upward peak as the adult disease. (Torrey, 1995) There has been mounting evidence found that schizophrenia, similar to autism, has neurodevelopmental roots. More neurodevelopment damage has been seen in childhood schizophrenia than in the adult-onset type. Usually by age seven or later, many children with schizophrenia show delays in language and other functions. This occurs long before their psychotic symptoms develop, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Research shows that 30% of these children show passing signs of prevalent developmental disorder in the first few years of life. They show display symptoms such as rocking, posturing, and arm flapping. (Rapoport, 1997)
The adult-onset schizophrenic patients
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