The likelihood of developing schizophrenia during adolescence

It is difficult for any parent to imagine that their child may be susceptible to any mental illness.
However, unfortunately, recently, a disease such as schizophrenia in adolescents is being diagnosed more and more often. At the initial stage of development it is very difficult to establish the correct diagnosis, so it progresses quickly. And this is truly scary.

Here is a far from complete list of questions that concern parents who have noticed something strange in their child’s behavior:

1. What is the cause of the development of mental disorders in children?
2. What you need to know about the first signs of teenage schizophrenia?
3. How to recognize a mental disorder in a child’s changeable behavior?
4. How to properly diagnose and treat this disease?
5. Is it possible to get rid of schizophrenia forever?
6. Is there a possibility that mental disorders will go away along with adolescence?

There are answers to these questions.

Causes

The exact cause of the development of schizophrenia in adolescence is not known for certain. However, we can confidently say that there are factors that have a direct impact on the formation of the disease. These include:

• hereditary predisposition;
• stressful situations;
• complex family relationships;
• computer addiction;
• drug use;
• smoking, childhood alcoholism.

Through many years of research, it has been proven that a teenage child is twice as likely to develop schizophrenia if this disease was previously detected in one of his relatives. The likelihood of a mental disorder increases significantly if both parents suffer from schizophrenia. Heredity has a huge influence on the formation of personality traits.

Stress is known to be the cause of many diseases, and schizophrenia is no exception. Excessive experiences, combined with the unformed psyche of a teenager, form the basis of first emotional disruptions and then severe psychoses. And they already entail schizophrenic disorders.

A turbulent situation in the family, conflicts with parents, youthful maximalism - all these are attributes of adolescence. They may well become the impetus for the development of the disease. A teenager who does not find support and understanding for a long time loses self-esteem, withdraws into himself and becomes depressed. You cannot do without the help of a psychotherapist in such a situation.

Excessive passion for computer games is the scourge of our time. What does schizophrenia have to do with it? It's simple. During the game, the perception of real events occurs. The more a teenager is attracted to the computer, the thinner the line between the real and virtual world. The understanding of all life events changes dramatically. Hallucinations and delusions are perceived as part of the game, and the child has no desire to leave it. Parents do not see anything unusual in the fact that he is talking to himself, but it is at this moment that they need to start sounding the alarm.

Drugs, alcohol and cigarettes in themselves are unacceptable things for a teenager. They have a negative impact on the physical condition of a still fragile child’s body, leading to general intoxication and mental retardation. But the worst thing is that the brain cells suffer from this. An incompletely formed psyche under the influence of narcotic substances can provoke a malfunction leading to schizophrenia and other severe disorders of consciousness.

Differences between males and females

If you believe the statistics, men get sick less often than women. Ratio: 3:2. The female part of the patients is characterized by a rapidly cyclical nature of the disorder. Women have low sensitivity to therapeutic methods. They have a higher risk of suicidal behavior and a higher rate of hospitalization. The symptoms of bipolar disorder in men are practically no different from the manifestations of the disorder in women.

Minor differences - in the male part of the patients the phases of mania and hypomania predominate, and in the female part - depressive states. Symptoms of depression in women are much more pronounced.

Manifestations of the disease

Unfortunately, there are no symptoms that can be detected to clearly indicate that a teenager is developing schizophrenia. Each case is individual. It would seem that similar manifestations in one child may indicate a serious illness, while in another it is just character traits, gaps in upbringing, or simply a bad mood.

The main signs of schizophrenia are of three types:

1. Negative. They represent disorders of the psyche and some body functions. Certain emotions simply become inaccessible to a teenager. He loses the ability to think logically, plan his actions, and take responsibility for his own actions. From the outside, this may look like aloofness, isolation, or simple laziness. These symptoms are quite difficult to identify and correctly qualify.
2. Positive. In fact, there is nothing good, much less positive, about them. Symptoms have this definition because they are acquired by the body as the disease progresses. These include hallucinations and delusions.
3. Cognitive. They manifest themselves as a failure of mental functions, apathy and indifference. Concentration and the ability to remember and use information suffer. These violations are difficult not to notice during close contact with the child.

At the initial stage, the teenager perceives hallucinations simply as his overdeveloped fantasy. Moreover, they can be visual or auditory, or combined with each other. Only over time does the child realize that something is wrong with him. The situation is complicated by the fact that the psyche is not yet fully formed, so it is impossible to predict the consequences of schizophrenic attacks.

During the period of exacerbation, the teenager loses his sense of reality. He is confused and depressed, there is no sense of social balance. The mood can change sharply and unpredictably, emotions do not always correspond to the situation. Progressive schizophrenia does not allow active communication with others - there is autism, unsociability and apathy.

By withdrawing into himself, the child is left alone with the problem. Typical situation of the initial stage of schizophrenia:

• a teenager hears some voices in his head;
• sometimes it seems to him that they are reading his own thoughts out loud;
• he is visited by various visions;
• there is a feeling of being watched or followed.

But the worst thing is that the child cannot tell anyone about this: the parents are too busy with work or themselves, friends will most likely perceive such a story as another reason for ridicule and bullying. Therefore, there is nothing left to do but fight your own fears alone.

And only when the symptoms of schizophrenia get out of control does it become impossible to hide the disease. If this happens, you should immediately contact a specialist. Undiagnosed mental disorders in adolescence can have very dire consequences.

It is worth noting that in most cases, schizophrenia in adolescents distorts emotional perception or develops dysfunction of thinking and perception of information. But, at the same time, surprisingly, the disease does not affect intellectual abilities. That is, visible changes occur in the child’s behavior, but if he studied well at school, he continues to do so.

Types of psychotic disorders among children

Children's mental illnesses are divided according to certain criteria. Depending on age, there are:

• early psychosis;
• late psychosis.

The first type includes patients with mental disorders of infancy (up to one year), preschool (from 2 to 6 years) and early school age (from 6-8). The second type includes patients of pre-adolescence (8-11) and adolescence (12-15).

Depending on the cause of the disease, psychosis can be:

• exogenous – disorders caused by exposure to external factors;
• endogenous – disorders provoked by the internal characteristics of the body.

Depending on the type of course, psychoses can be:

• reactive , which arose as a result of prolonged psychological trauma;
• acute – arising instantly and unexpectedly.

A type of psychotic disorder is affective disorder. Depending on the nature of the course and symptoms of affect disorders, there are:

• depressed;
• manic;
• schizoaffective;
• organic.

Determining the diagnosis

Analyzing visible and hidden symptoms and making an accurate conclusion is already a big step towards getting rid of the disease. An incorrect diagnosis leads to incorrect treatment. As a result, instead of recovery, the disease drags on and progresses, and it becomes much more difficult to cope with it.

Some people generally refuse to recognize schizophrenia in adolescents as a disease. They associate unusual behavior with:

• lack of vitamins and microelements in the body;
• metabolic disorders;
• general fatigue;
• characteristics of the personality's psychotype;
• influence of external factors.

However, schizophrenia exists, and it begins in adolescence. The slightest deviation in a child’s behavior should be a reason to contact a psychiatrist.

To identify the diagnosis, the child is monitored for at least six months. There is no way to do this before, since the symptoms and course of the disease may change.

To exclude tumors and other brain diseases, it is necessary to conduct the following studies:

• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• electroencephalography;
• general and biochemical blood test;
• state of immune status;
• assessment of hormonal levels.

Specially designed psychological tests play a major role in diagnosing schizophrenia in adolescent children. With their help, you can determine which brain structure is most affected by the disease. Information provided by parents and other relatives who have close contact with the patient is also taken into account.

Providing professional assistance

Short-term attacks of psychosis in a child disappear immediately after their cause disappears. More severe diseases require long-term therapy, often in an inpatient hospital setting. Specialists use the same drugs to treat childhood psychosis as for adults, only in appropriate doses.

Treatment of psychoses and psychotic spectrum disorders in children involves:

• prescription of antipsychotics, antidepressants, stimulants, etc.;
• consultations with relevant specialists;
• family therapy;
• group and individual psychotherapy;
• attention and love of parents.

If parents were able to identify a mental disorder in their child in time, then several consultations with a psychiatrist or psychologist are usually sufficient to improve the condition. But there are cases that require long-term treatment and being under the supervision of doctors.

Psychological failure in a child, which is associated with his physical condition, is cured immediately after the disappearance of the underlying disease. If the illness was provoked by a stressful situation experienced, then even after the condition improves, the baby requires special treatment and consultations with a psychotherapist.

In extreme cases, when severe aggression occurs, the child may be prescribed tranquilizers. But for the treatment of children, the use of heavy psychotropic drugs is used only in extreme cases.

In most cases, psychoses experienced in childhood do not return in adulthood in the absence of provoking situations. Parents of recovering children must fully adhere to the daily routine, do not forget about daily walks, a balanced diet and, if necessary, take care of taking medications in a timely manner.

The baby cannot be left unattended. If there is the slightest disturbance in his mental state, it is necessary to seek help from a specialist who will help him cope with the problem that has arisen.

To treat and avoid consequences for the child’s psyche in the future, it is necessary to follow all recommendations of specialists.

Treatment

There are cases when, suspecting something was wrong in the actions of a teenager, parents or teachers took him to a psychologist. The responsibilities of this specialist include monitoring the patient’s behavior, identifying his psychotype, etc. However, he will not be able to determine schizophrenic disorder. Only a psychiatrist will do this; he will also prescribe treatment.

So is it possible for a teenager to completely get rid of schizophrenia? Yes, this is possible, but not a single psychotherapist can guarantee that this will happen in any particular case. With the right treatment, long periods of remission may occur after the condition worsens.

Acute symptoms of schizophrenia are relieved with antipsychotics. This happens in a hospital, under the constant supervision of specialists. To achieve visible results, you need to take the medications prescribed by your doctor for at least three weeks. The following may be prescribed as auxiliary means:

• antidepressants;
• tranquilizers;
• antipsychotic substances.

The length of hospitalization depends on the severity of symptoms and the general condition of the adolescent. Therapy gives lasting positive dynamics. After completing an intensive course of treatment, the patient is sent home for further rehabilitation on an outpatient basis and social adaptation.

Types of psychoses

The causes of psychosis directly affect its classification. So, the following types of mental disorders are distinguished:

• endogenous phenomena - arise due to the influence of bipolar disorders, depressive factors, neuroendocrine phenomena on a person;
• exogenous phenomena - occur under the influence of various external factors, as well as due to the use of narcotic drugs, severe stress;
• organic phenomena - occur as a result of somatic pathologies, for example, myocardial infarction, head injuries and infectious diseases.

The division can be called conditional, since sometimes the occurrence of psychosis is influenced by several factors at once. As a result, a person faces serious mental disorders that lead to various problems.

Life after confirmation of illness

Yes, it exists.
It often happens that a timely diagnosis allows you to stop the progression of the disease. In this case, the teenager may not remember his illness for the rest of his life. But not everyone is so lucky. It happens that teenage schizophrenia does not go away without a trace, but simply transforms into another stage, then you need to learn to live with it. Of course, it won’t be easy to do this, but you shouldn’t despair and give up: people live with much more serious problems. Even if the diagnosis of schizophrenia is finally confirmed, this is not a reason to despair and give up. It is very important to start treatment, and modern medications truly work wonders and have virtually no side effects.

Nowadays, schizophrenia is not a death sentence at all; a young person should and can lead a normal life. Periods of remission can last up to 5-7 years.

There is an opinion that schizophrenia, which began its development in adolescence, must necessarily manifest itself in aggressive behavior or shocking actions. In reality, everything is not like that. Schizophrenic attacks do not provoke aggression. A teenager suffering from this mental disorder is more likely to harm himself than someone else around him.

After treatment, the child must undergo a rehabilitation course. She will prepare him for life in society. Experts will tell you how to behave in various situations, analyze feelings, and control emotions. In some cases, a teenager will need constant monitoring.

Why are children susceptible to mental disorders?

Multiple causes contribute to the development of mental disorders in children. Psychiatrists identify whole groups of factors:

• genetic;
• biological;
• sociopsychological;
• psychological.

The most important provoking factor is a genetic predisposition to mental disorders. Other reasons include:

• problems with intelligence (mental retardation and others like it);
• organic brain damage;
• incompatibility of the temperament of the baby and the parent;
• family discord;
• conflicts between parents;
• events that left psychological trauma;
• medications that can cause a psychotic state;
• high fever, which may cause hallucinations or delusions;
• neuroinfections.

To date, all possible causes have not been fully studied, but studies have confirmed that children with schizophrenia almost always have signs of organic brain disorders, and patients with autism are often diagnosed with cerebral insufficiency, which is explained by hereditary causes or injuries during childbirth .

Psychosis in young children can occur due to parental divorce.

At-risk groups

Thus, children are at risk:

• one of whose parents had or has mental disorders;
• who are brought up in a family where conflicts constantly arise between parents;
• have had neuroinfections;
• those who have suffered psychological trauma;
• whose blood relatives have mental illnesses, and the closer the degree of relationship, the greater the risk of developing the disease.

The importance of family support

Of course, it is important that a teenager knows that there is a person next to him whom he can turn to and tell about all his fears and experiences. Then the likelihood increases that schizophrenia will be identified at the initial stage and treatment will give maximum results. But this rule only works if the patient’s relatives adequately assess the seriousness of the mental disorder and are aware of the possible consequences.

It often happens that caring mothers and fathers, instead of taking their child to see a psychiatrist as soon as possible, find all sorts of excuses for his strange behavior. For example:

• incoherent muttering, an unblinking gaze at one point is explained by the fact that the child has been over-studying and is collapsing from fatigue;
• hallucinations - the consequences of too strong expression of emotions;
• reluctance to communicate with peers - excessive workload at school;
• despondency and indifference are just a bad mood.

With blind love mixed with pity for their loved one, parents themselves aggravate the situation. By not contacting a specialist in time, they delay the recovery process. The slightest psychological trauma can lead to the initiation of the disease, not become its cause, but only contribute to the development of symptoms.

A feature of schizophrenic disorder is a tendency toward suicidal behavior or self-harm. In this regard, there is an urgent need for constant monitoring of the teenager.

In addition, it is advisable to find an activity that he will like and generally adjust his lifestyle. Please pay attention to:

• proper and healthy nutrition;
• playing sports;
• intellectual development;
• leisure.

Relatives of a child with schizophrenia should know for themselves that it can and should be treated and convince the patient of this. A visit to a psychiatrist cannot be avoided, but it is not at all as scary as is commonly believed.

Recommendations for parents

Every parent concerned about the mental health of their child should remember:

• do not forget that psychosis is a disease that needs treatment;
• treatment should be started in a timely manner, and the visit to specialists should not be delayed;
• it is necessary to consult with several specialists, because proper treatment is the key to success;
• for the treatment and prevention of the disease, the support of family and friends is important;
• goodwill towards the patient speeds up the treatment process and ensures lasting results after treatment;
• after treatment, the baby must be returned to a normal environment and make plans for the future;
• it is necessary to create a calm atmosphere in the family: do not shout, do not practice physical or moral violence;
• take care of the baby’s physical health;
• avoid stress.

Love and care are what any person needs, especially a small and defenseless one.

Main symptoms

The disease manifests itself with various symptoms that need to be addressed promptly:

• hallucinations: a person talks with invisible interlocutors, listens to something, abruptly ends the conversation. Visual and olfactory hallucinations may also occur, because it all depends on the characteristics of the problem;
• nonsense: a person turns off critical thinking, so it is useless to explain or prove anything to him. He will be jealous, cause harm, talk to imaginary interlocutors;
• emotional disorders: the ability to express emotions suffers, because the person will not understand what exactly he is doing;
• changes in character: a person becomes nervous, overly emotional, refuses to eat and does not sleep;
• changes in sensations: mood constantly changes, unreasonable fears appear;
• changes in behavior and performance: a person becomes distrustful, refuses to make contact, is inattentive, and prone to stressful situations;
• changes in perception: the perception of sounds and shades is distorted.

If you notice symptoms of psychosis in yourself or your loved ones, contact a professional immediately. They will provide first aid and engage in further treatment of the patient using the best programs and methods.

Juvenile schizophrenia

In addition to depressive disorders and personality disorders, serious illnesses such as schizophrenia also quite often develop at this age. We are talking about a form of it called juvenile schizophrenia. This form occurs extremely rarely and is exclusive.

However, if such a misfortune does occur and the disease begins, then, as a rule, it proceeds catastrophically. That is, this is a malignant form in which the psyche is rapidly destroyed and is extremely difficult to stop. The course of this disease destroys the psyche in about 2-3 years. During this time the child becomes disabled.

How is psychosis treated?

It should be noted that it is impossible to cure psychosis at home. You should not take medications without specialist supervision. To determine the cause of the problem, you will need the help of a qualified professional.

If you or your loved one is faced with a similar problem, contact medical centers. There are doctors who will not only determine the cause of the problem, but also prescribe the optimal treatment method. After some time, the person will return to normal life again, because his mental health will be restored.

Sexual desire disorders

At this age, the sexual sphere of a teenager

, his gender identity is finally formed. In cases where we are talking about personality disorders, impulse disorders are very common, including sexual desire disorders, and then we can find many different kinds of psychosexual anomalies, which also sometimes border on various kinds of events that have legal consequences. These are the kinds of troubles that teenagers can expect when we talk about psychopathy.