Schizophreniform Psychosis of Childhood
KENT JORDAN M.D.1, and
DANE G. PRUGH M.D.2
1 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Coordinator, Pediatric Psychiatric Liaison, University of Colorado Medical Center, 4200 East Ninth Ave., Denver, Colo. 80220
2 Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, 4200 East Ninth Ave., Denver, Colo. 80220
Twenty-two children were studied who had symptoms that closely correspond to the 1966 GAP description of schizophreniform psychosis: extensive fantasies, impaired reality testing, hallucinations, paranoia, fluctuating ego functioning, and intensely dependent attachments to adults, especially the mother. Unlike most childhood psychoses, this disorder did not appear until early latency. If early psychotherapy, lasting a year or more, was carried out, the prognosis was good. The authors stress the importance of early recognition and treatment of this disorder and urge an end to its neglect in the literature.
