Q&A:
Could the behavior swings of my 2-year-old be due to schizophrenia?

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Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.

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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.

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Question

Could the behavior swings of my 2-year-old be due to schizophrenia?

Answer

Big swings in behavior are pretty typical for normal 2-year-olds and they almost always push parents very hard. Food binges, temper tantrums, and fearful periods are all part of being 2. It sounds as if you need some support, as most parents do at this age. Look for support groups, parenting classes, and mom's groups in your community. This site has more information for these challenging years, so surf for more information on specific issues to help you understand your child.

The neurobehavioral disorder we call schizophrenia usually doesn't show up until adolescence or later. It occurs in 1 in 100 people but in about 3 percent of close relatives, siblings, and children. So although there is some added genetic risk, it's very small. That means that your child is more likely to be unaffected even if he has close relatives with this disorder. If you or your spouse has this neurological condition, you deserve some special help in parenting. Your mental health care provider or your community mental health center will have resources to help out. Contact NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (www.nami.org) for information or resources on this disorder.