Schizophrenia in children
Schizophrenia is rarely experienced before puberty. The illness is hard to recognise in its early phases. The behaviour of children with schizophrenia may differ from that of adults with this illness
Symptoms of childhood schizophrenia
The symptoms of schizophrenia in children may differ to that of adults. Early warning signs of childhood schizophrenia may include:
- trouble discerning dreams from reality
- seeing things and hearing voices that are not real
- confused thinking
- vivid and bizarre thoughts
- extreme moodiness
- concept that people are "out to get them"
- severe anxiety and fearfulness
- confusing television or movies with reality
- severe problems in making and keeping friends.
For more information about schizophrenia in general please see our Schizophrenia factsheet (525 kb) ![[pdf]](http://www.rethink.org/display_images/document_icons/pdf.gif){kind=icon}
Children who used to enjoy relationships with others may become more shy or withdrawn and seem to be in their own world.
Treatment for schizophrenia in children
Schizophrenia is normally treated with anti-psychotics but this medication is not usually licensed for children. This does not mean they cannot be prescribed but a child would need to be closely monitored by a psychiatrist who specialises in child psychotic illness if schizophrenia is suspected.
For more information about how to access treatment for a child you suspect might have schizophrenia please see our factsheet Childhood mental illness (663 kb)
