Hebephrenic schizophrenia and the need for an early diagnosis. Case presentation
Hebephrenic schizophrenia and the need for an early diagnosis. Case presentation

Summary/Abstract: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that requires lifelong treatment. Early intervention can help control symptoms before other complications occur and can help improve the long-term outlook. There is evidence that pharmacological interventions, when used early and in a sustained manner, can improve the long-term prognosis. Because schizophrenia is difficult to diagnose before the onset of acute symptoms, treatment may be delayed for a significant period of time. In some situations, the symptoms may be evident since childhood, in early-onset, disorganized or hebephrenic type, with a very severe prognosis. Unfortunately, the symptoms of this period often go unnoticed, especially due to the fact that the parents and the child's entourage do not have the necessary information to notice them. In this context, the question arises whether a form of screening and monitoring of children with early behavioral changes, through teachers, school doctors and psychologists, could lead to early therapeutic intervention, with better long-term results. The present case shows a frequent situation, in which the patient presents at adult age due to an aggravation of the symptoms, which were present since childhood. Due to the delayed intervention, the patient's evolution was marked by frequent relapses and resistance to most of the treatments. The prognosis is a reserved one, emphasizing the importance of implementing methods for early detection of the pathology, since childhood, when an early intervention could have better results.

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