Childhood Psychosis

Childhood psychosis is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, catatonia, and/or negative symptoms such as lack of motivation, and reduced display of emotions. The onset of such symptoms should be before 13 years old. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM 5), this is classified as schizophrenia with childhood onset. Specifically, the symptoms should have been experienced for at least six months and there is a failure to reach the expected level of functioning in the different developmental dimensions. Hence, early signs include late or unusual crawling, communication delays, and unusual motor behaviors such as arm flapping.