Psychotic disorders in children

A psychosis is a severe mental health disturbance where the patient’s perception of reality is significantly compromised. Its key symptoms are sensory hallucinations, paranoia and a loss of reality.

Childhood psychoses are extremely rare. Childhood psychoses include schizophrenia, psychotic depression and bipolar affective disorder, psychotic states induced by intoxicant use, and brief, transitory psychoses.

If your child presents with psychotic symptoms, contact your local health center or school health care. The children’s emergency clinics deal with acute cases.