title: Symptom development in childhood onset schizophrenia.
abstract: Symptom development from birth to 12 years of age was examined in 18 children who met DSM-III criteria for schizophrenia with onset before 10 years of age. Using a follow-back design, symptom development was rated at each of four age levels using a DSM-III Symptom Rating Scale and the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Results revealed a gradual developmental unfolding of a broad spectrum of symptoms affecting social, cognitive, sensory and motor functioning and beginning many years before the appearance of schizophrenic symptoms--usually in early infancy. Prior to 6 years of age, severe language deficits and motor development problems were each found in 72% of the sample and symptoms of infantile autism were found in 39% of the sample. Onset of schizophrenia occurred at an earlier age for children with a history of autistic symptoms during infancy than for other children in the sample. Schizophrenia as defined by DSM-III was entirely absent before 6 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Asarnow
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Tanguay
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology