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When childhood schizophrenia begins very early, the disorder often becomes apparent gradually and builds up to the first psychotic episode. The signs of the disorder may include social withdrawal, disruptive behaviors, learning difficulties, speech or language impairments, or other developmental delays. These early signs aren't specific to childhood schizophrenia and may indicate a variety of other conditions. Although very young children can start showing signs of schizophrenia, it's extremely rare to get an official diagnosis before a child is 7 years old. Children with childhood schizophrenia often have hallucinations in the form of sounds, voices, images, odors, or tastes things that do not really exist. Other symptoms these children may encounter include:

• Problems paying attention

• Impaired speech

• Difficulty with memory and reasoning

• Absent or inappropriate facial expression

• Poor social and self care skills

• Depressed mood, thoughts, and feelings

• Inability to make decisions

• Inconsistent body movements

• Believing in make-believe ideas about reality

• Hearing voices or experiencing other sensory incidents that aren't real (hallucinations)

• Disorganized thinking.

• Excessive motions with no purpose

• Little verbal communication with other people

Children with childhood schizophrenia many times may show few or no feelings; they may laugh at a sad occasion, make poor eye contact, and show little body language. It is important to remember that as children grow, they naturally have frequent mood and behavior changes that are a part of their normal growth and development. Only an evaluation by a mental health professional can determine if a child is developing childhood schizophrenia.
The main types of schizophrenia are the following:

•Paranoid-type schizophrenia is described by delusions and auditory hallucinations but have fairly normal intellectual functioning and expression for concern. The delusions can often be about being victimized unjustly or being some other person who is famous. People with paranoid-type schizophrenia can exhibit anger, unfriendliness, anxiety, and become confrontational.
•Disorganized-type schizophrenia is described by speech and behavior that is delirious or difficult to understand, and empty or improper emotions. People with disorganized-type schizophrenia may laugh at insignificant incidents or at something not closely related to what they are saying or doing. Their disorganized behavior may disrupt daily activities, such as showering, dressing, and preparing meals.

•Catatonic-type schizophrenia is described by disturbances of movement. People with catatonic-type schizophrenia may keep themselves completely motionless or constantly in motion. They may not say anything for hours, or they may repeat anything you say or do senselessly. Either way, the behavior is puts this form as high risk because it impairs their ability to take care of themselves.
•Residual-type schizophrenia is described by a past history of at least one episode of schizophrenia, but the person currently has no active symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, erratic speech or behavior). It may signify the person is in between an actual episode and possibly complete remission, or schizophrenia may continue for years without any further psychotic episodes.
There is no precise cause for the disorder. Scientists do not yet understand what causes schizophrenia, but believe it may be a combination of genes, environment, behavior, and other factors. Most researchers believe that schizophrenia results from problems with early brain development.
The reasons associated with the development of these brain-pathway problems are controversial and are being carefully investigated. Some of the areas of current research include the possibility of related genes and stressful childhood environments in genetically susceptible children. If a parent has schizophrenia, the chance for a child to have the disorder is 10 to 15 percent. Risks increase with multiple affected family members.
Scientists have long known that schizophrenia has a genetic predisposition.

Treatment types for childhood schizophrenia are based mostly on adult treatments and interventions, which have been studied more thoroughly. Medications known as atypical anti-psychotics are the foundation of treatment. These medications help to control psychotic behaviors through regulation of dopamine associated nerve pathways. These drugs may prevent the recurrence or lessen the intensity of psychotic episodes.

A child's first experience with a psychotic incident can be very frightening and disturbing. While there may be much to learn about your child's condition over the course of several months, dealing with the immediate crisis of a psychotic episode is essential.

Other interventions for childhood schizophrenia intended to be used along with drug treatment may include:

• Psychotherapy for child and parents or guardians that focuses on coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and awareness of symptoms and the circumstances that may prompt or aggravate them.

• Special educational programs that address learning and developmental needs.

• Day programs or at-home services for children who can't attend school for an entire day.
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that currently has no cure and will not disappear, but its symptoms are manageable with treatment. Treatment for schizophrenia includes biological, educational, and social interventions. Medication is the core of the treatment of schizophrenia, but should be viewed as a means to facilitate psychological and social interventions. Treatment with only medication is not as effective as medication combined with other forms of treatment.

Psychopathy – a violation of conduct which is often congenital in nature. Psychiatrists describe different types of psychopaths, but one thing remains the same for all types: hard and bad character driven behavior.

Speaking of psychopathy tend to have in mind the behavior of troubled teens, as abnormal behavior of the younger children. Most parents blame themselves or in a bad upbringing of their children and try hard to find a solution themselves, or do not pay them much attention until it happens something bad, or resign themselves as a given.

Social conditions of development are of great importance for the correction of psychopathy. When a child is brought up in a psychopathic antisocial environment, its pathological tendencies are amplified. However, the good conditions in the family do not always provide an optimistic forecast for the development and social adaptation.

Behavior problems in preschool and primary school age are often considered as the wrong education or failure at school. Only such extreme acts such as theft, arson, explosions, etc., forcing the parents to consult specialists.

But doctors can not cure psychopathy. As is known, the treatment of diseases such as psychosis and schizophrenia, symptomatic, i.e., the doctor treats the individual manifestations of the disease. He may appoint psychopath sedatives, and at the time of the patient’s condition improves. But if a child will not have adequate conditions of education and training, all may soon return to their seats.

Psychopathy in children often disinherited, unruly, explosive, aggressive. Early enough, they can draw attention to themselves because they like to say some stuff, without feeling guilt. These children are not ashamed of their tears of repentance is not often, but from malice. They are selfish, they are alien to empathy, and they may show cruelty. Depending on the type of psychopathic behavior may be a raid of schizophrenia (schizoid psychopathy), epilepsy (epileptic psychosis), and hysteria (hysteria psychopathy).

It should be noted that psychopathy can be observed both in children and adolescents with high and normal levels of intellectual development, and in children and adolescents with mental retardation.

 

III. 1. Answer the questions:

1) What causes schizophrenia?

2) What are the different types of schizophrenia?

4) What kinds of medications are used for schizophrenia?

5) What are the risk factors for psychopathy?

6) What treatments exist for psychopathy?

2. Make the plan of the text. Here are the titles in the wrong order. Make the order correct:

1) Types of schizophrenia

2) Common symptoms of childhood schizophrenia
3) Schizophrenia possible causes.

4) Psychopathy as abnormal child behavior

5) Treatment for childhood schizophrenia

 

3. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1) psychopathy, a general term for a range of personality disorders characterized by lack of empathy, socially manipulative behavior, and occasionally criminality or violence;

2) Hallucinations may occur in any of the five senses and take on almost any form, which may include simple sensations (such as lights, colors, tastes, smells) to more meaningful experiences such as seeing and interacting with fully formed animals and people, hearing voices and complex tactile sensations;

3) The signs and symptoms of childhood/pediatric schizophrenia are nearly the same as adult-onset schizophrenia;

4) Psychopaths have a total lack of empathy and remorse, and have very shallow emotions.

5) Parents cannot be held to fault for their offspring becoming psychopaths;

6) Some children with schizophrenia report feeling as if an outside force is controlling them or manipulating them in some way;

7) Childhood schizophrenia is a chronic disorder and children with schizophrenia require long-term treatment;

8) Most schizophrenic children show delays in language and other functions long before their psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking) appear, usually at age seven or later.

4. Find the synonymous words in the text:

- strange behavior;

- crazy, mad;

- smell;

- burning;

- a feeling of regret;

- incoherent speech;

- to reduce.