Early-onset schizophrenia

Abstract

Early-onset schizophrenia is defined as schizophrenia with onset before the age of 18 years. While schizophrenia is a very rare disorder in childhood, it becomes increasingly common during adolescence and peaks in early adulthood. Even though childhood and adolescent schizophrenia lie on a continuum with adult schizophrenia and show roughly the same clinical picture, they both have some developmental specifics. They display greater symptom variability making the classification in subtypes difficult. Early-onset schizophrenia usually begins slowly and insidiously with a prodrome phase, which can last from a few months to several years. If patients fulfil the ultra high risk criteria for schizophrenia, different interventions can be offered to them already in a prodrome phase–individual and group therapy, methods for improving cognitive functioning, support and education for family and pharmacotherapy. Early-onset schizophrenia has worse prognosis compared to schizophrenia with onset in adulthood. Half of the patients have a chronic course. Early recognition and treatment is therefore crucial for a better disease course and quality of life.