High rates of comorbidity are found in childhood-onset schizophrenia
Received 14 February 2006; received in revised form 7 July 2006; accepted 10 July 2006.
Abstract
Background
For adults with schizophrenia, comorbidity is common and contributes to impairment. Thus, there has been an increasing effort to identify and treat comorbid symptoms. This report extends that work by examining comorbidity in children and young adolescents with childhood-onset schizophrenia.
Methods
Eighty-two children, ages 4–15 years, with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder received structured diagnostic instruments for symptoms and pharmacological treatment history. DSM-IV diagnoses were identified using a non-hierarchical approach.
Results
Eighty-one (99%) of the children with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder had at least one comorbid psychiatric illness: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (84%), oppositional defiant disorder (43%), depression (30%), and separation anxiety disorder (25%) were the most common comorbid conditions identified. Pharmacological treatment of the comorbid conditions was uncommon.
Discussion
Comorbid syndromes are common in children and young adolescents with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Pharmacological treatment of the comorbid conditions is rare; however it is unclear if this is due to DSM-IVs hierarchical diagnostic system or to a lack of empirically driven guidelines for appropriate treatment. Additional efforts focused on comorbidity in very-early-onset schizophrenia are warranted.
ABSTRACT