As unique as each individual is, so is her potential presentation of early schizophrenic signs. If some of the more bizarre delusions, hallucinations and behavior begin early and happen overtly enough, schizophrenia may be recognizable earlier rather than after full psychotic breaks. Because schizophrenia comes in several varieties, the early signs will vary depending upon its eventual type. It typically develops in early adulthood but occasionally develops earlier or later.
Signs at Infancy
According to studies published in "American Journal of Orthopsychiatry" and "Psychiatric Clinic of North America," there is evidence of a correlation between an infant's attachment style and both symptoms and progression of later schizophrenia. The infant's attachment style is how he bonds with his initial caretaker. In particular, avoidant attachment, in which the infant avoids emotional bonding, may be an early sign of the illness.
Lower Cognitive Ability
Many children who later develop schizophrenia have a history of lower IQ, grades and achievement, according to "The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry." There are also extremely intelligent people who later develop schizophrenia. Children and adolescents may both show evidence of rigidity of thought patterns and repeating words or thoughts over and over.
Less Overt Emotion
Sometimes children who display a restricted range of emotion, called affect, later develop schizophrenia. Affect means the emotion that matches their current verbalized or apparent feeling state. For instance someone says she is really angry, but says it in an emotionless voice, while staring back at the other person with a flat facial expression. This symptom is also found in autism or depression, among other disorders.
Less Social Development
Children who are less socially responsive than their peers or display poor social adjustment may be showing early signs of schizophrenia. Lack of social responsiveness and adjustment means they may not speak when asked a question, show no reaction to what is being said, are unempathic, and make few, if any, friends. Again, these signs are found in other disorders or may simply be caused by shyness.
Motoric Problems
Some children who display unusual or poor movement and coordination will later have schizophrenia. Sometimes they show lack of balance, perform repetitive movements that appear purposeless, have unusual gaits or repeat ritual-like movements over and over, or frequently. But again, these signs may be signs of many other problems.
Depression
By adolescence, depression linked to schizophrenia may develop. Because depression is diagnosable by itself, at this point it is not likely to be viewed as schizophrenic. For example, with severe depression, psychotic symptoms may arise that are not linked to schizophrenia.
Social Withdrawal
A change in behavior, such as the onset of social withdrawal, irritability, antagonism, or conduct problems, may be a sign of schizophrenia. But because many children and adolescents experience changes in mood, may rebel, and may use drugs, it is difficult to identify these changes as schizophrenia. If the change is relatively sudden and severe, and abuse of substances can be ruled out, schizophrenia may be diagnosed.
The Prodrome
Typically, schizophrenics experience a period of about one year before their first full psychotic break called the "prodrome." The prodrome usually develops in late adolescence but sometimes occurs earlier. It is characterized by overt psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, odd thoughts, words, suspiciousness and odd writing. During the prodrome, signs and symptoms become both more frequent and severe.
References
- "American Journal of Orthopsychiatry"; Attachment Patterns are Associated with Symptomatology and Course of Schizophrenia in Male Inpatients; Alexander M. Ponizovsky, Yakov Nechamkin, Paula Rosca; April 2007
- "Psychiatric Clinic of North America"; The Role of Genetics in the Etiology of Schizophrenia; Pablo V. Gejman, Alan R. Sanders, Jubao Duan; March 2010
- "The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry, Fifth Edition"; Edited by Robert E. Hales, M.D., M.B.A., Stuart C. Yudofsky, M.D., and Glen O. Gabbard, M.D.; 2008
- "Synopsis of Psychiatry, 9th ed."; Benjamin J. Sadock, M.D., Virginia A. Sadock, M.D.; 2003
