Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia

The video described the lives of two young girls with schizophrenia. One of the girls, Jani, received a diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia at the age of 7 years old. According to the video, her current behaviors include “flapping” (shaking or moving her hands and arms up in down at a rapid speed), naming and interacting with imaginary animals on a consistent basis, attempting to attack (hit with a flat palm hand, throw objects) her baby brother. Jani’s parents also described her behavior as a baby. Her past behaviors include, staying up all night, no frequent naps, cried often for long periods of time, and looking around the room as if something was there. By the age of 3 Jani would interact with imaginary people. She assigned names and personalities to each imaginary character (usually pets and animals).

Childhood schizophrenia is described as the onset of schizophrenia in a child under the age of 14. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that presents difficulties in logical thinking and telling the difference between what’s real and unreal as well as engaging in abnormal behaviors and emotional responses. The video showed Jani engaging in behaviors that could also be characterized as schizophrenia; her obsession with imaginary characters, interacting with imaginary characters, as well as her unusual relationship with her younger brother. Jani was also showed engaging in behaviors that could be considered symptoms of ASD. These behaviors include, flapping and unhealthy obsessions. Delays or atypical functioning in the areas of social interactions, communications and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped pattern behavior before the age of 3 years old characterizes autism Spectrum Disorder. Although the video showed Janie engaging in these behaviors, we would need to know at what age the behaviors began to occur as well as any other behaviors that could be symptoms of ASD. Based off of the interviews with Jani’s parents, she could have possibly been a candidate to receive Early Intervention Services (a support system that specializes in assisting children with developmental disabilities or delays and their families).

Rebecca is the second girl presented in the video. She is a 9 year old diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and also friends with Jani. Paranoid schizophrenia is described as individuals having false delusions that some one or some people are plotting against them or others. At one point, Rebecca attempted to commit suicide to rid herself of the voices and thoughts in her head. When asked by the interviewer the differences between her diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and Jani’s diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia, Rebecca stated that they both had different concerns. She fears the occurrence of an unlikely event, she believes that a man is watching over her and trying to harm her; Jani is obsessed with multiple imaginary animals that she has developed over the years.