Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking, behavior or emotions. Signs and symptoms may vary, but usually involve delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, and reflect an impaired ability to function. The effect can be disabling. In most people with schizophrenia, symptoms generally start in the mid- to late 20s, though it can start later, up to the mid-30s. Schizophrenia is considered early onset when it starts before the age of 18. Onset of schizophrenia in children younger than age 13 is extremely rare. Symptoms can vary in type and severity over time, with periods of worsening and remission of symptoms. Some symptoms may always be present. Schizophrenia can be difficult to recognize in the early phases. Early signs and symptoms Schizophrenia signs and symptoms in children and teenagers are similar to those in adults, but the condition may be more difficult to recognize in this age group. Early signs and symptoms may include problems with thinking, behavior and emotions. Thinking:  Problems with thinking and reasoning Bizarre ideas or speech Confusing dreams or television for reality  Behavior:  Withdrawal from friends and family Trouble sleeping Lack of motivation — for example, showing up as a drop in performance at school Not meeting daily expectations, such as bathing or dressing Bizarre behavior Violent or aggressive behavior or agitation Recreational drug or nicotine use  Emotions:  Irritability or depressed mood Lack of emotion, or emotions inappropriate for the situation Strange anxieties and fears Excessive suspicion of others  Later signs and symptoms As children with schizophrenia age, more typical signs and symptoms of the disorder begin to appear. Signs and symptoms may include:  Delusions. These are false beliefs that are not based in reality. For example, you think that you're being harmed or harassed; that certain gestures or comments are directed at you; that you have exceptional ability or fame; that another person is in love with you; or that a major catastrophe is about to occur. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia. Hallucinations. These usually involve seeing or hearing things that don't exist. Yet for the person with schizophrenia, hallucinations have the full force and impact of a normal experience. Hallucinations can be in any of the senses, but hearing voices is the most common hallucination. Disorganized thinking. Disorganized thinking is inferred from disorganized speech. Effective communication can be impaired, and answers to questions may be partially or completely unrelated. Rarely, speech may include putting together meaningless words that can't be understood, sometimes known as word salad. Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior. This may show in several ways, from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation. Behavior is not focused on a goal, which makes it hard to do tasks. Behavior can include resistance to instructions, inappropriate or bizarre posture, a complete lack of response, or useless and excessive movement. Negative symptoms. This refers to reduced or lack of ability to function normally. For example, the person may neglect personal hygiene or appear to lack emotion — doesn't make eye contact, doesn't change facial expressions, speaks in a monotone, or doesn't add hand or head movements that normally occur when speaking. Also, the person may avoid people and activities or lack the ability to experience pleasure.  Compared with schizophrenia symptoms in adults, children and teens may be:  Less likely to have delusions More likely to have visual hallucinations  Symptoms may be difficult to interpret When childhood schizophrenia begins early in life, symptoms may build up gradually. Early signs and symptoms may be so vague that you can't recognize what's wrong. Some early signs can be mistaken for typical development during early teen years, or they could be symptoms of other mental or physical conditions.  As time goes on, signs may become more severe and more noticeable. Eventually, your child may develop the symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions and difficulty organizing thoughts. As thoughts become more disorganized, there's often a "break from reality" (psychosis) frequently requiring hospitalization and treatment with medication.
schizophrenia involves range problems thinking  behavior emotions  signs symptoms may vary  involve delusions  hallucinations disorganized speech  reflect impaired ability function  effect can disabling  people schizophrenia  symptoms generally start mid- late 20s  can start later  mid-30s  schizophrenia considered early onset starts age 18  onset schizophrenia children younger age 13 extremely rare  symptoms can vary type severity time  periods worsening remission symptoms  symptoms may present  schizophrenia can difficult recognize early phases  early signs symptoms schizophrenia signs symptoms children teenagers similar adults  condition may difficult recognize age group  early signs symptoms may include problems thinking  behavior emotions  thinking:  problems thinking reasoning bizarre ideas speech confusing dreams television reality  behavior:  withdrawal friends family trouble sleeping lack motivation — example  showing drop performance school meeting daily expectations  bathing dressing bizarre behavior violent aggressive behavior agitation recreational drug nicotine  emotions:  irritability depressed mood lack emotion  emotions inappropriate situation strange anxieties fears excessive suspicion  later signs symptoms children schizophrenia age  typical signs symptoms disorder begin appear  signs symptoms may include:  delusions  false beliefs based reality  example  think you're being harmed harassed; gestures comments directed you; exceptional ability fame; person love you; major catastrophe occur  delusions occur people schizophrenia  hallucinations  involve seeing hearing don't exist  person schizophrenia  hallucinations full force impact normal experience  hallucinations can senses  hearing voices common hallucination  disorganized thinking  disorganized thinking inferred disorganized speech  effective communication can impaired  answers questions may partially completely unrelated  rarely  speech may include putting meaningless words can't understood  known word salad  extremely disorganized abnormal motor behavior  may show ways  childlike silliness unpredictable agitation  behavior focused goal  makes hard tasks  behavior can include resistance instructions  inappropriate bizarre posture  complete lack response  useless excessive movement  negative symptoms  refers reduced lack ability function normally  example  person may neglect personal hygiene lack emotion — doesn't eye contact  doesn't change facial expressions  speaks monotone  doesn't add hand head movements normally occur speaking  also  person may avoid people activities lack ability experience pleasure   compared schizophrenia symptoms adults  children teens may be:  likely delusions likely visual hallucinations  symptoms may difficult interpret childhood schizophrenia begins early life  symptoms may build gradually  early signs symptoms may vague can't recognize what's wrong  early signs can mistaken typical development early teen years  symptoms mental physical conditions   time goes on  signs may severe noticeable  eventually  child may develop symptoms psychosis  including hallucinations  delusions difficulty organizing thoughts  thoughts disorganized  there's "break reality" (psychosis) frequently requiring hospitalization treatment medication
childhood schizophrenia