In colloquial speech, the concept of psychosis in children implies the manifestation of tantrums or age-related crises. From the point of view of physicians, the essence of this phenomenon is much more serious. Such a mental disorder in minors is rarely found. It is important to identify the disease in a timely manner and conduct adequate therapy.
Difficulties in making a diagnosis
Psychosis in children has nothing to do with loud crying and rolling on the floor, which almost every baby has from time to time. Such a mental disorder is characterized by a certain set of symptoms. To make this diagnosis, the patient must be examined by doctors of various speci alties. Why is it so difficult to identify mental disorders in minors? The fact is that problems with thinking and speech are evidence of mental imbalance. Since these processes are poorly formed in young patients, it is difficult for the doctor to determine the nature of the deviation. Behavior will be the only diagnostic criterion.
Experts are unsure about the distinction between psychosis in children and inpuberty. Some doctors believe that adolescent mental disorders should be placed in a special category. Their manifestations will be different from the signs of behavioral abnormalities in babies.
Another difficulty in diagnosis is the similarity of the symptoms of psychosis, hysterical personality traits and neuroses. In general, all mental disorders lead to a lack of adequate perception and difficulties in social life.
What factors contribute to the development of pathology?
Today, experts do not have a clear answer to this question. But there is evidence that the signs of psychosis in a child occur due to the following circumstances:
- Using certain medications.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Inflammation of the meninges.
- Infectious pathologies that are accompanied by a significant increase in temperature.
- Mechanical damage sustained during childbirth.
- Maternal alcohol abuse during gestation and breastfeeding, taking drugs.
- Mental strain, traumatic events.
- Bad heredity, the manifestation of signs of mental disorders in one of the family members.
- Wrong parenting tendencies (calleness, violence both physically and emotionally).
This disorder can begin in preschool or later in life. As a rule, a pathology that was provoked by somefactor (for example, a serious illness), goes away on its own after the disappearance of the symptoms of the underlying disease. When the baby's body is restored, peace of mind also returns to normal. In some cases, psychosis in children occurs without the influence of environmental circumstances. Experts believe that this can be explained by biochemical disorders. They develop as a result of difficult delivery, the use of alcohol or drugs by the mother. Adverse circumstances only provoke the symptoms of mental disorders to which the patient was predisposed.
Signs of pathology
In children with psychosis, the symptoms are as follows:
- Hallucinations that have a visual and auditory character. The patient sees things, people, animals or events that are not really there. It can talk about sounds, touches or smells that are not present in the real world.
- The confused nature of consciousness. This symptom manifests itself in the process of speech. The patient's statements are meaningless, not related to each other.
- Impulsive demeanor. It can be unbridled joy, anger. The child gets irritated over trifles, breaks objects, treats pets cruelly.
- Aggression towards people, both peers and adults. When visiting an educational institution, the patient calls names to peers, fights.
- Appetite fluctuations. The child may be constantly hungry, and after a while completely refuse food.
- Long stay in the same position, poor facial expressions, frozen orsad expression in the eyes.
- Lability of the emotional background. Apathy and sadness are replaced by excitement, anger.
- Strong manifestations of feelings. This symptom is expressed in loud crying, resentment, attacks of fright.
- Sleep disorders (increased activity at night, fatigue during the day).
- Persistent pain in the head, fatigue for no particular reason.
- External signs of illness (cold skin, profuse sweating, dry lips, enlarged pupils). Seeing such a patient gives the impression that he is suffering from a fever.
Psychosis in 1 year olds
In babies, mental disorders are very difficult to detect. Deviations can be suspected in the presence of autistic tendencies in behavior. The kid does not smile, he has no expression of emotions. The development of the speech process is delayed. Obsessive actions are observed (for example, clapping hands). The baby is not interested in surrounding objects, does not show affection for relatives. As patients with this disorder get older, diagnosing psychosis in children is less of a challenge for specialists.
The manifestation of mental disorder at the age of two
As a rule, this condition is associated with the influence of provoking factors. Such circumstances include various infectious pathologies, the use of medicines, high fever, poor functioning of the immune system or lack of nutrients. Genetics play an important role. The course of psychosis in a child of 2 yearscan be acute, while they occur suddenly and are clearly manifested. Sometimes the disease is protracted or periodically provokes a deterioration.
According to reviews, in some cases, pathology makes itself felt for a long time.
In two-year-old patients, psychosis can be suspected in the presence of apathy, sleep disturbance, refusal to eat, bouts of pain in the head and a strong heartbeat. Since the disease is often associated with bodily diseases, the child should be examined by specialists of different profiles. For example, you need to check how well the organs of vision work, whether the baby has hearing impairments and the speech process.
Manifestations at the age of three
The disease is characterized by deviations in behavior, lack of logic in statements. The patient does strange things. Psychosis in a child of 3 years can also be suspected in the presence of sudden changes in mood. The patient's reactions to external circumstances are inadequate. For example, he may get angry at a harmless remark, make up new words, or laugh in a situation where he should be sad. In addition, the child sees or feels things that are not there.
Sometimes it is difficult for parents to distinguish fantasies from hallucinations of various kinds. Naturally, the boy can play the prince who saves the beauty from the dragon. However, if the patient actually sees the monster, they experience strong emotions such as intense fear and act accordingly.
Bouts of mania and depression in a child
This condition is extremely rare in minors. Before adolescence, pathology is difficult to identify due to the absence of symptoms. Most often, the disease manifests itself in puberty due to changes in the balance of hormones.
Manic-depressive psychosis in children can develop under the influence of such reasons:
- Bad heredity.
- The age of mother and father (the older the parents, the higher the likelihood of pathology).
- Sleep disorders.
- Mental strain, stressful situations.
- Pathologies of an infectious nature.
Children with this disease do not show signs of mania. But there are deviations such as:
- Increased activity.
- Too much fun.
- Early interest in sex.
- Aggression.
- Excitement.
Such symptoms are present for a certain time, and then are replaced by others:
- Feeling broken, lethargic.
- Increased sleepiness.
- Discomfort in different parts of the body. In this case, the patient cannot indicate the localization of discomfort.
- Insomnia.
- Fears.
- Whims, refusal to play games.
- Suicidal.
The consequences of a mental disorder
This pathology does not pose a direct threat to life. However, its complications are very unpleasant. Reviews indicate thatthe child becomes detached, uncommunicative, aggressive, his character deteriorates, intellectual activity is disturbed. Sometimes parents attribute changes in behavior to crises that go away on their own. However, such deviations are not as harmless as it might seem. Psychosis in a child aged 5 years and older has a bad effect on interaction with peers in educational institutions (kindergarten, school).
Angry outbursts and uncontrollable reactions make it difficult to interact with others.
Diagnosis
To identify this pathology, you need to observe the patient for a long time. First, an examination is carried out, a conversation with the child and his relatives. Then the specialists must do examinations, laboratory tests, tests to determine mental abilities, social skills, speech and hearing development. In some cases, it is necessary to diagnose diseases of the nervous system. For this, the patient is admitted to the hospital.
Therapy
For psychosis in children, treatment depends on the cause of the disorder, the symptoms, and how severe they are. Often such deviations develop in juvenile patients under the influence of traumatic events. In this case, the pathology disappears on its own. The more time passes since the onset of the stress factor, the better the patient's condition becomes. In such a case, classes with a psychologist and the creation of a calm environment help. If the mental disorder is caused by a bodily pathology, the doctorshould pay attention to the therapy of the underlying ailment. Medicines are prescribed only in situations where the patient is angry.
What should parents do?
In the presence of psychosis in children, the symptoms and signs of which are described above, reviews recommend following these tips:
- Set a clear daily routine for your baby.
- Protect him from shocks and drastic changes.
- Try to avoid punishment, do not use violence.
- Create a warm and kind environment in the house.
- If necessary, change educational institution.
