The childhood schizophrenic in adolescence.

Abstract

1. The importance of establishing a diagnosis in the emotionally disturbed child has been emphasized. 2. Forty adolescent childhood schizophrenics have been contrasted with 20 adolescent behavior problem cases and 20 adolescents whose schizophrenia appeared in adolescence. 3. (a.) The childhood schizophrenics revealed: (i) a tendency to early and severe physiological disturbances and showed general immaturity; (ii) a frequent history of spontaneous “whirling” and toe-walking; (iii) poverty of thought, marked sexual confusion and obsession with space, time and motion in those under 15; (iv) marked distortion of body image, with concern over bodily extremities and spacial orientation; (v) Bender Gestalts emphasizing “vortical activity”; and (vi) positive “whirling tests” in many but with the presence of positive tests in controls making it apparent that this test is not diagnostic of itself. (b.) The adolescent schizophrenics showed none of these symptoms except for: (i) marked sexual confusion; (ii) confusion about body periphery; and (iii) positive “whirling tests” in some. (c.) The behavior-problem adolescents had none of the gross abnormalities described for the childhood schizophrenics. 4. There appeared to be some therapeutic gains in several adolescent childhood schizophrenics who were experiencing long-term “relationship therapy” with accepting adults of the same sex. 5. Remedial reading, speech therapy, visual-motor training must be of primary concern in all therapeutic programs.