Definition:
Schizophrenia is one of the most complex of all psychological health disorders. It is a severe, chronic, and disabling disturbance of the brain that leads to distorted thinking, strange feelings, and unusual behavior and use of language and words.
Diagnosis:
Schizophrenia in children and adolescents is often diagnosed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Other mental health professionals gnerally participate in the completion of a comprehensive mental health evaluation to determine individualized treatment needs.
Treatment:
Treatment for schizophrenia is not simple. A combination of therapies is often required to meet the individualized needs of the child or adolescent with schizophrenia. Treatment is directed at reducing the symptoms associated with the disorder.
Symptoms and Signs:
In adolescents with schizophrenia, behavior changes may occur gradually, over time, or have a sudden onset. The adolescent may slowly become more shy and withdrawn. They may start to talk about bizarre ideas or fears and begin to cling more to parents. One of the most disturbing and puzzling characteristics of schizophrenia is the sudden onset of its psychotic signs.
Causes:
There is no known single cause attributed to schizophrenia. It is believed that a chemical imbalance in the brain is an inherited factor which is required for schizophrenia to develop. However, it is likely that many factors - genetic, behavioral, and environmental - play a role in the development of this disorder.
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