Schizophrenia in Adolescents / Teens

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established teen-only
Is it more common among adolescents / teens? Onset begins to become clinically relevant in later adolescence
Are adolescents / teens at higher risk? Yes developmentally as onset approaches
How much higher is the risk? NE
How often can it be missed? Very high
Does it show up differently among adolescents / teens? Yes
How might it look different? Functional decline, social withdrawal, suspiciousness, disorganisation, hallucinations/delusions may emerge
What commonly occurs alongside it? Substance use; depression/anxiety
What can it be confused with? Substance-induced psychosis; bipolar disorder; severe depression; autism; brief psychotic disorder
Common screening tool PQ-16 / psychosis-risk assessment, followed by clinician evaluation
Separate screening tool for adolescents / teens PQ-B designed for help-seeking adolescents/young adults
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