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Old 03-17-2005, 03:54 AM
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Shoshana Shoshana is offline
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Just wanted to correct some information given earlier - the age of onset for both males and females is late teens or young adulthood. There are signs in childhood/adolescence for those with the worst forms of this illness. Those signs are fine motor deficits, neurointegrative/information processing deficits, and/or social withdrawal. The medication has improved greatly since the 1950's and many people are able to function quite well.

As icunurse mentioned, an 18% increased risk does not guarantee that the child will develop the disorder. The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown although it appears there is a genetic (not 100%) contribution. Even if a child has the diathesis (predisposition) it is not a certainty that the disease will be expressed.

Best wishes to you...


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