schizophrenia

[stephera]

Is it true that health care professionals can tell if a child will develop schizophrenia by how big their heads are when getting checkups?

Thanks,

Steph

[stephera]

Is it true that health care professionals can tell if a child will develop schizophrenia by how big their heads are when getting checkups?

Thanks,

Steph

[talaxandra]

I'm not a psych nurse, but my understanding is that schizophrenia is a biochemical disturbance. In any case the problem is with the brain, not the skull, which is what determines head size. I can't imagine that pedicatric head size gives any indication about mental illness, but does indicate problems like hydrocephalus.

[talaxandra]

I'm not a psych nurse, but my understanding is that schizophrenia is a biochemical disturbance. In any case the problem is with the brain, not the skull, which is what determines head size. I can't imagine that pedicatric head size gives any indication about mental illness, but does indicate problems like hydrocephalus.

[hypnotic_nurse]

As far as I know, there is no way to tell if someone will get schizophrenia. Most people who knew the person prior to the first psychotic break have told me that they were just as normal as any other kid.

[hypnotic_nurse]

As far as I know, there is no way to tell if someone will get schizophrenia. Most people who knew the person prior to the first psychotic break have told me that they were just as normal as any other kid.

[donmurray]

In a word, No. Nobody can tell.

[donmurray]

In a word, No. Nobody can tell.

[CliveUK]

Short answer - no.

Long answer - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Gator,SN]

It is not the skull that gets bigger when a person has schizophrenia, it is the ventricles in the brain that are usually enlarged. This can be detected on MRI.

Gator

[CliveUK]

It is not the skull that gets bigger when a person has schizophrenia, it is the ventricles in the brain that are usually enlarged.

Hypothetically. In fact, none of the studies has demonstrated conclusively that ventricular enlargement is a feature of schizophrenia.

[Spazzy Nurse, RN]

I gotta ask, Steph, where the heck did you hear that?