How to Diagnose Schizophrenia in Children

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that can affect a person's thinking, behavior and emotions. There is no cure for this illness, but it can be managed with medication. This disorder affects 1 out of 40,000 children so it is a rare condition in children. Early detection and proper assessment are important to diagnose schizophrenia in children and ensure an effective treatment plan.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Know that the symptoms of schizophrenia in children are many (see Resources). Some of these are changes in social behavior, delusion, confused or bizarre thinking, hallucination, moodiness and depression. Note that there are other mental disorders (like bipolar disorder, autism, etc.) that also may have these symptoms in common.
2. Look for any of these signs by observing your child's behavior. Check to see if there are any changes in sleep patterns, self-care or in relationships with family and friends (i.e. becomes withdrawn).
3. Listen to your child and let them verbalize their thoughts, feelings and fears. A child that exhibits extreme signs of paranoia, thought disorder or speech disorder may suffer from this illness.
4. Ask the child's teachers for an assessment on any noticeable changes in your child's behavior, school performance or interaction with schoolmates. Usually, teachers are the first to notice these behavioral changes.
5. See your pediatrician if you suspect that the child may be schizophrenic. A full evaluation is necessary to diagnose schizophrenia in children. The pediatrician will refer you to a psychiatrist who has special training and can fully evaluate, diagnose and treat your child.
6. Consult with the psychiatrist and have the child properly tested. If the diagnosis is schizophrenia then the child may need a comprehensive treatment plan which can include medication, therapy and special programs.