Childhood schizophrenia

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Left untreated, childhood schizophrenia can result in severe emotional, behavioral, health, and even legal and financial problems. Complications that childhood schizophrenia may cause or be associated with include:

  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts and behavior
  • Self-destructive behavior
  • Abuse of alcohol, drugs or prescription medications
  • Inability to perform daily activities, such as bathing or dressing
  • Declining school performance
  • Inability to attend school
  • Inability to live independently
  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • Behavior problems, including fighting, damaging property and stealing
  • Incarceration
  • Poverty
  • Homelessness
  • Health problems from antipsychotic medications
Preparing for your appointment Risk factors

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  • Schizophrenia
References
  1. Schizophrenia. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  2. Schizophrenia. Skodol AE, et al. Specific personality disorders. In: Hales RE, et al., eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  3. Jibson MD. Schizophrenia: Clinical presentation, epidemiology, and pathophysiology. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  4. Gejman PV, et al. The role of genetics in the etiology of schizophrenia. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2010;33:3.
  5. Schizophrenia. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/complete-publication.shtml. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  6. Jibson MD. Schizophrenia: Diagnostic evaluation and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  7. Families and schizophrenia: The view from advocacy. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2007;30:549.
  8. Rathod SR, et al. Cognitive behavioral therapy for schizophrenia. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2010;33:3.
  9. Staying well when you have a mental health condition. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/mental-health-month/staying-well-when-you-have-a-mental-illness. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  10. Mattai AK, et al. Treatment of early-onset schizophrenia. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2010;23:304.
  11. Frazier JA, et al. Treatment of early-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (TEOSS): Demographic and clinical characteristics. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2007;46:979.
  12. Early onset schizophrenia. National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Early_Onset_Schizophrenia.htm. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  13. Factsheet: Schizophrenia in children. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8F81-1372-4D20-C84C5539FAB14576. Accessed Oct. 12, 2010.
  14. Wall CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 17, 2010.
DS00868 Dec. 17, 2010

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