Childhood schizophrenia


Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Although the precise cause of schizophrenia isn't known, certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia, including:

  • Having a family history of schizophrenia
  • Exposure to viruses while in the womb
  • Poor nutrition while in the womb
  • Stressful life circumstances
  • Older paternal age
  • Taking psychoactive drugs during adolescence

Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia typically develop between the teenage years and the mid-30s. Early-onset schizophrenia occurs in children younger than age 17. Very early-onset schizophrenia occurs in children younger than age 13.

Complications Causes

  • See Also

    • Hand Scheduled
    Section Focus
  • Schizophrenia

    • Related Links
    Related Guides
    Children
    Parent
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

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger