This page provides you with information about schizophrenia in children and adolescents.

The Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is responsible for the treatment of schizophrenia in children and adolescents in Central Denmark Region.

Ventrum Skejby

What is schizophrenia?

What is schizophrenia in children and adolescents?

When I go outside, I may experience that the gratings over the basement windows disappear. Then I might have the sensation of falling down the hole. But when I blink my eyes, the gratings are in place.
Nadia, 17

Who gets schizophrenia?

What causes schizophrenia?

There is no single explanation for why some children and adolescents become schizophrenic. Biological, psychological and social factors can pose a risk of developing schizophrenia. Today, schizophrenia is understood in terms of the stress vulnerability model. In other words, some people are particularly vulnerable to strains and stresses and can therefore develop the disorder in case of high exposure to strains and stresses.

Biological risk factors

Psychological factors

Social factors

The voice might say: “You will die the next time you go home. The sky will darken, and you will be struck by lightning."
Ida, 17

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Various symptoms

Hallucinations

Delusions

Jumbled words and thoughts

Modtagelse i Skejby

Movement disorders

Loss of abilities

Cognitive disturbances

From mild to severe courses

Schizophrenia and substance abuse

Examination for schizophrenia

Exclusion of physical cause of symptoms

Sometimes people can read my thoughts. So I have to think about cinnamon rolls.
Maja, 15

Specialists in psychiatry and the OPUS specialist team

Samtale mellem ung pige og behandler i bua

Types of schizophrenia

What types of schizophrenia are there?

Treatment for schizophrenia

Early treatment is important

Pharmacological treatment

Control of side effects

Education about schizophrenia disorder

Offer of treatment in OPUS

Hospitalisation

Course of the disorder

Advice for people who have schizophrenia

What can you do yourself if you are suffering from schizophrenia?

What can be done to prevent schizophrenia?

Advice for relatives

Life as a relative

What can you, as a parent, do to support your child?

What can you, as a parent, do for yourself

Text on this page updated January 2022 (version 1.03).

Most recently revised by: Martin Hansen, Consultant at Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital – Psychiatry.

Direct link: www.en.szp1.ps.rm.dk