Psychotic Disorders In Childhood: Characteristics, Types And Symptoms
Psychotic disorders are mental disorders characterized mainly by causing unusual ideas and perceptions, so the loss of contact with reality is quite striking. The main symptoms include hallucinations and delusions and, although there is more research on cases that develop in adulthood, they can also begin in childhood.
Psychotic disorders in childhood would be included within the general classification of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, there are a series of differences between this type of case and those that develop in adulthood, so it is advisable to talk about it and explain its characteristics.
In this article We will see what are the main characteristics of psychotic disorders in childhood in order to be able to distinguish them from those that develop in adulthood.
In the first cases of schizophrenia, diagnosed by Bleuler and Kraepelin, an onset in childhood and/or adolescence could be observed, being Mahler, who a few years later came to make a description of psychotic disorders in childhood under the name of “symbiotic infantile psychosis”, characterized by being a hallucinatory and omnipotent somatic and psychic fusion with the mother, which would therefore imply a denial of a common border between two physically separated subjects.
Currently, there is no specific category for psychotic disorders in childhood within the international classifications, but rather these types of cases would be included within the general classification of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, There are a series of differences between this type of cases and those that develop in adulthood so we will talk about it soon.
The positive symptoms
Within the positive symptoms of psychotic disorders in childhood It is worth highlighting the delusions which, although they are usually less elaborate than in the case of adults, acquire a greater degree of systematization as the child grows. The most common delusions in childhood tend to be persecutory-themed, although somatic delusions or hypochondria, regency, extravagant and, lastly, grandeur delusions also occur quite frequently.
On the other hand, hallucinations also tend to be quite frequent, although they also have a lower degree of elaboration than those that usually occur during adulthood. Within this category, we can highlight the auditory hallucinations and also visual hallucinations (the latter appear to a lesser extent than the former). On the other hand, we can also find non-affective hallucinations, hallucinations related to orders, visuals and about voices that converse.
Other of the most characteristic positive symptoms within psychotic disorders in childhood are speech disorganization, when the child shows illogical, incomprehensible and incoherent language; disorganization of thought, when it shows aggression, restlessness and lack of self-care; Finally, catatonic symptoms, which are a series of motor alterations due to defect or even excess, or showing unusual body postures.
It is also common for them to show emotions that are not in accordance with the situation or that there is emotional impoverishment by expressing very few emotions.
The negative symptoms
Among the negative symptoms of psychotic disorders in childhood, it is worth highlighting the existence of scarce or poor language for their age, some maladaptive behaviors, isolation, little social integration with other children due to a difficulty in establishing and/or maintaining relationships, affective resonance and little expressiveness, apathy, abulia or anhedonia, among others.
When a child suffers from a psychotic disorder, it is common for them to be experiencing a notable deterioration in the functioning that corresponds to their age or stage of development, since a serious disturbance of the organization of his personality usually develops thus hindering the understanding of reality, among other consequences that require professional attention.
What are psychotic disorders in childhood like?
Psychotic disorders in childhood are made up of a series of symptoms, whether positive or negative, like those we saw previously and are fundamentally characterized by the fact that the child who suffers from any of them experiences a notable alteration in the perception of reality, and also in emotions and in your thoughts.
Thus, It is necessary to treat it as soon as possible and opt for integrated or multimodal treatment (psychotherapy, psychopharmacology and even psychopedagogy) in order to establish a medium and long-term therapeutic model in order to achieve stabilization of symptoms and disruptive behaviors, as well as to help the child develop levels of acceptable performance.
It should be noted that, to date, no unique or exact causes have been found for the development of psychotic disorders in childhood. However, several experts warn of the existence of a series of factors to take into account that, when combined, can favor its development in childhood: genetic factors, family history of psychosis, growing up in a negative environment, living negative experiences, early consumption of alcohol and/or drugs, some problems or complications during pregnancy, some anomalies in the structure and in some brain functions, etc.
Next, we will briefly explain some of the most common psychotic disorders during childhood.
1. Acute psychotic break
One of the psychotic disorders in childhood would be the acute psychotic outbreak, in which it is common to detect a verbose and overflowing language, also having communication without apparent meaning and disconnected.
In this type of case, the most common symptoms are delusions and hallucinations, and are also characterized by occurring for a shorter period of time than in other types of psychotic disorders (approximately 1 month compared to other disorders that usually last longer). 1 month).
2. Disharmonic psychosis
Disharmonic psychosis could develop from the age of 4 and is characterized by the display of unusual and not at all harmonious postures (e.g., the child remaining still in a position that gives the impression that he is petrified). It is also common for there to be some deficits in certain areas of learning, in the body schema, difficulties when locating oneself in time and space, as well as certain difficulties related to language and laterality.
3. Deficit psychosis
In this case of deficit expression psychoses, It has been observed that they have a cognitive deficit and also in learning. Furthermore, it is common for them to express psychotic anxiety and show a series of impulsive behaviors and self-aggressive characteristics, as well as a certain dissociation at a psychological level. In this type of cases, upon reaching adolescence it has been observed that it is quite common for them to present a series of episodes of polymorphic delirium, characterized by an association of delusional ideas of a diverse nature.
4. Schizophrenia in adolescence
Schizophrenia in adolescence, also known as early schizophrenia, It is one that usually begins to develop before the age of 13 old. In this type of case, there are usually characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia in adulthood, such as positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions, etc.), as well as negative symptoms (e.g., impoverishment of vision). performance and some capacities of the subject, such as the negative symptoms of the psychotic disorders that we mentioned above).
Attenuated psychosis syndrome is a disorder that is located in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) within Section III (Conditions requiring further study), so it is important to include it here.
This syndrome is made up of a series of symptoms that are also characteristic of schizophrenia (e.g., disorganized speech, hallucinations, delusions, etc.); However, in the case of attenuated psychosis syndrome These symptoms occur for a shorter duration and have lower levels of severity. Furthermore, in these types of cases, people who suffer from it usually have a greater degree of introspection and awareness of the problem, although they are still notable enough to cause some distress and even clinical disability.
Related article: “5 signs of poor mental health that you should not ignore”
6. Borderline syndrome in childhood or Multiple Developmental Disorder
Another psychotic disorder in childhood that should be discussed is borderline syndrome, also known as multiple developmental disorder, characterized by a series of conditions at different levels.
In this syndrome there are usually a series of difficulties at a social level, so Their social relationships may be affected, leading to isolation ; certain difficulties when it comes to differentiating fantasy from reality and also when organizing one’s own thoughts; problems regulating anxiety, impulsive acts or difficulties concentrating, among others.
High risk mental states
The name high-risk mental states has been used to refer to those syndromes that, once detected, indicate a risk of evolution towards psychotic disorders in childhood its appearance being inevitable in some cases although treatment by a professional team as soon as possible is still important in order to provide both parents and the child with the tools so that they can have a full life.
Some experts who have researched high-risk mental states have established 3 subcategories:
In which there is a family history of psychosis.
The child’s history of limited psychotic symptoms for a short time.
Existence of psychotic symptoms at quite attenuated levels.
