Schizophrenia often manifests in early adolescence, typically between ages 13 and 18. This is known as early-onset schizophrenia, as opposed to adult-onset schizophrenia which appears later in life.
In a small number of cases, however, symptoms of schizophrenia begin to appear in early childhood, sometimes as early as infancy.
If a child develops schizophrenia prior to the age of 13, they are characterized as having very early-onset schizophrenia. About 1 in 30,000 children is diagnosed with very early-onset schizophrenia, according to an article from The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP).
Why does the age of onset matter in patients with schizophrenia? The short answer is that the age of onset can have a significant impact on both the severity and the treatability of the disorder.
Some children display symptoms of schizophrenia and psychosis as early as infancy, with symptoms such as delays in motor skills and fixating on invisible objects. As children age, symptoms shift to social withdrawal, frequent whispering to themselves, being too distracted to follow basic commands, and having violent statements and behaviors.
The initial manifestation of schizophrenic symptoms in young children can seem relatively harmless at first, with symptoms making school increasingly difficult. Because these symptoms can be signs of many other disorders such as the more common attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), children exhibiting these symptoms are often misdiagnosed.
As time goes on though, children with very early-onset schizophrenia tend to showcase some of the more obvious symptoms of the disorder such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, according to the AJP article.
Needless to say, these more schizophrenic-specific symptoms are more debilitating and severe than the initial symptoms, causing children to experience problems with their school performance, school behavior, and social relationships.
While very early-onset schizophrenia is rare, those with a family history of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses should pay extra attention to the possible symptoms of very early-onset schizophrenia.
For more information on schizophrenia in young people, reach out to us. We want to help you and your loved ones take back control of your mental health.