[Early onset schizophrenia (case report)]

A total of 120 children and adolescents with the diagnosis of schizophrenia were hospitalized at the psychiatric clinic in Prague in 1946-1975. Of the 120 patients (58% males and 42% females) 12.5%, i.e. 15 died by 1988. The results are consistent with data in the literature which pertain to pregnancy, family background, relations with people already before the disease developed, social maladaptation, more frequent loss of a parent, depressive symptoms at the onset of the disease, changes on the EEG and neurological examination. The results differ as regards--1. A much greater hereditary load in grade II relatives 45% (19% psychoses, 14% suicides, 12% alcoholism). 2. A greater hereditary load in grade I relatives-parents and siblings (16% psychoses and suicides, 5% alcoholism, 12% personality disorders). 3. The authors detected more psychoses among grade I relatives 14% (11% schizophrenia, 3% manic-depressive psychosis). The hereditary load in the narrower sense of the word in grade I relatives is significantly elevated 16% (14.5% psychoses, 1.5% suicides). Based on the results pertaining to the 15-42-year catamnestic investigation of education, occupation, attempts to work, a certain socialization, attacks and remissions, the authors elaborated the prognosis. The author's prognosis of early onset schizophrenia: 10% complete cure, 17% remission alternating with relapses, 73% chronic patients (20% are capable of a certain socialization; in 53% permanent care by another person is necessary-this applies to chronic patients with a defect-deterioratio and postpsychotic psychopathization.