How do parents recognize that their child suffers from schizophrenia?
Unfortunately, only very severe schizophrenia disorders are so striking that psychiatric treatment is being considered. For example, if the child describes his or her hallucinations or wants to hurt himself or herself or others, the parents notice very quickly that something is wrong. If, for example, the child hears voices that are not there or speaks of imaginary friends who give him instructions, a psychiatrist is usually quickly called in.
If the symptoms are less pronounced, they can easily be misinterpreted, for example as a very pronounced fantasy or as ordinary mood swings. However, if the symptoms cause the child to have problems, for example at school, or if there is a delay in development, the child should be referred to a doctor anyway. The doctor should then think of a psychiatric problem and initiate the diagnosis. It is therefore only possible for parents to diagnose schizophrenia themselves if the child shows very severe symptoms, otherwise it is the responsibility of the doctor.
Treatment of schizophrenia
If the symptoms are pronounced, an introduction to child and adolescent psychiatry should be made in order to prevent a potential danger to the child’s own health and to ensure optimal conditions for therapy. The most effective treatment for schizophrenia is the use of antipsychotic drugs (e.g. haloperidol, clozapine). These are almost exclusively approved for adults, but can be prescribed “off-label” by the doctor if necessary, i.e. outside the scope of the approval.
Alternative substances are risperidone or ziprasidone, which are not directly approved for schizophrenia, but are still approved for the age group. Psychotherapies and alternative approaches can also be used in children, but only support drug treatment. After the acute relapse, the child can be discharged if a suitable drug has been found in the lowest still effective dosage.
As a rule, the child should continue to take the medication for a longer period of time to prevent relapses. If it is a mild relapse, the drug can be discontinued after a while under the supervision of a doctor. If the psychosis was very pronounced, lifelong medication is often required.
