Paranoid Behavior in Children

Paranoid behavior can be a symptom of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Young children sometimes describe experiences or engage in behaviors that would be considered symptoms of a mental health issue in older children or adults, so mental health workers are cautious about diagnosing children with one of these disorders.

  1. Paranoia

    • Paranoia is a false perception that other people are trying to harm you. A child who is experiencing paranoia might think that his parents or teachers want to hurt him or that someone is reading his mind or controlling what he thinks or does, according to the Child Mind Institute. A single incident of paranoid behavior in a young child might not indicate a more serious problem, but if a child older than 7 years old displays an ongoing pattern of paranoid behavior, in extremely rare cases a disease such as schizophrenia might be the cause, according to Schizophrenia.com.

    Schizophrenia

    • Schizophrenia is much less common in childhood than in adulthood. According to Schizophrenia.com, 1 in every 100 adults has schizophrenia, but only 1 in every 40,000 children. A child suffering from schizophrenia might seem socially disconnected and emotionally disengaged and might report hearing voices saying harsh or critical things. She might see objects that aren't there. According to the Child Mind Institute, a child with schizophrenia exhibits delusions, such as the belief that she is receiving secret messages through the television. Some people with schizophrenia experience paranoia, but others do not.

    Paranoid Defiance

    • The Child Mind Institute notes that some children with schizophrenia are initially diagnosed as having a conduct disorder because of their seemingly hostile or defiant behavior toward caregivers. Adults might not realize at first that the child's hostility is motivated by a paranoid delusion, such as the belief that his parents are planning to hurt him. Paranoid schizophrenia can sometimes be dangerous because a person suffering from paranoid delusions really believes other people are a threat. Some people with schizophrenia experience command hallucinations, where voices order them to do potentially harmful things. If your child shows any symptoms of paranoia, talk to your doctor immediately.

    Bipolar Disorder

    • Schizophrenia is not the only possible cause of paranoid behavior in a child. According to Keepkidshealthy.com, bipolar disorder can also manifest as paranoia. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, is characterized by severe mood swings between mania and depression. Paranoia caused by bipolar disorder can take the form of exaggerated fear of everyday events or hallucinations of frightening monsters. Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are treated with a combination of therapy and medication.

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