PDD/NOS/ Schizophrenia | Autism PDD

My son is 19 has pdd/nos but now is being diagnosed as schizophrenic I justed wondered if anyone has had this happen? He was depressed on and off but never thought it would lead to this. He is in the hospital right now getting treatment. Just looking for answers Lanette

I have read many times in various medical articles that somehow manic-depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, Autism and anxiety disorders are all on the same "wavelenght". They are all related in the brain and they can co-exist with Autism. That rings very true in our family. Many on my dads side have depression, my neice and I are bi-polar, my 18 and 12 yo DD's have ADD and my 16 yo DD has chronic depression. My 6 yo DS has moderate Autism and my 18 mo DS is being evaluated for regressive Autism.

Is there anyone in your family that suffers from any of the above listed disorders? I am sure this is a VERY difficult time in your life, but at least your son is being treated and is in a safe situation. Please keep us posted as to how he, and you, are doing No but does he hear voices and see things? Those noises could really viperations. If you put noise ear phones on him and the noise stops..... but him seeing things I can't help you.
amberwaves39332.416875

I'm very sorry to hear about your struggles. I hope you'll get the help and support your son needs, in a setting you feel comfortable with.

Well Bob is doing about the same the d.r does not think he will get any better they will release him soon because of insurance They want to do the outpatient treatment for awhile to see if they have the right medications i 'm very discouraged. They even mentioned putting him in a board and care Lanette

Just wanted to send some hugs & my thoughts to you, Lanette. And also, to vcuddy & JulieA. All three of you & your sons are going through so much. Praying you get some answers soon.

I have a 15 year old (he will be sixteen in January) who is getting worse and worse. So far we have had diagnoses' of ADHD/ODD, visual processing disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, severe, recurrent, provisional, Bipolar disorder and Nonverbal Learning Disorder (Depressive Disorder with a rule out on Bipolar, and Nonverbal Learning Disorder are the current dx's) in addition to PTSD, Conduct Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and many, many others. All either at different times or concurrently. Meds have helped him survive, but barely. At this point he is hanging on by a thread and last week I was up in the middle of the night with him while he experienced what I can only assume were hallucinations. Next month we will be traveling to the Amen Clinic in the Washington D.C. area to get to the bottom of this mess. We are pretty sure he has some kind of brain damage resulting from the circumstances of his birth (his apgar score was a 1

If you ever need any one to chat with feel free to PM me.

For everyone who may be facing the issue of schizophrenia, I'm sorry. For several years I lived with a family member who has it, so I have some firsthand experience. I want to say that with the right diagnosis and the right medications and the right support, there is hope. For more info, Wikipedia is helpful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

Thanks for all the post i will keep all of you in my prayers.We have decided when he is released we will bring him home first if it is still bad then consider board and care. Maybe something positive will happen this week. Take Care All Lanette I also have a 19 year old son..he is Autistic, seizure disorder, and I have requested he be assessed for Sensory Intrgration dysfunction. I have no advice, but hope for you and your son, good thoughts...if you ever wnt to talk PM me...The doctor at one point mentioned schizophrena, but that was a very long time ago...Justin has been on alot of meds..and there were many times when he was not "here"...but the meds have been deceased or added and at this point in time he is doing ok...I can only take it one day at a time..try and remember that..maybe that will help.

I believe gtto was in this situation as a teenager. From what I recall, her lively imagination was an escape from painful and confusing reality and not a case of hearing voices at all. She also behaved how she believed the hospital personnel expected her to behave (and which they inadvertently rewarded) because the hospital setting was so confusing and stressful.

I'm not saying to distrust the doctors evaluating and treating your teenagers, but I feel it's important to remind everyone how complicated people with autism are, also in a diagnostic situation.

I hope you get all the support and information you need in this difficult time. I'll be thinking of you all.

Back in the day autism was called childhood scizophrenia. Also someone told me that in medical books autism is classified under scizophrenia. I know autism, scizphrenia, bipolar, depression, tourettes all run in mine and hubbys family and theres alot of similarities to the both. Ive read they can coexist often with eachother too.

http://www.autismhelpforyou.com/Autism%20Alzheimer's%20Schiz ophrenia%20Compared.htm

yes our previous doc almost gave our 13 yr old ds this diagnosis

because ds keep saying that people were watching him in public
and staring (yes because he does unusual things)

he also thought the fire sprinklers in the hospitals were set up with cameras so the staff could spy on him
and he thought aliens were controlling him

the main thing was to look at how disturbed he would be by the thoughts

our doc explained kids with OCD and ASD can have a paranoid "flavor" about them but if it isn't extremely disturbing to them it may not be schiz.

that is just what we were told hope it helps

Julie
No advice--just hugs! Hope you find some answers soon! Please keep us posted on how things go.

MDD (McDD) is a spectrum disorder that is similar to schizophrenia in many ways. I hope this helps.

http://www.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism/mdd.html

horizon39332.347650463Thanks everyone for all the comments We have depression and add in the family. He also thinks the cops are watching him him on camera . Well right more later of to my second job. Lanette You know my stepsister was an 'unusual child' with many behaviors that
today would get her some pdd dx. She got a dx of schizophrenia as an
adult. I have only met her as an adult and I do not believe that she is
misdiagnosed. I have read that pdd can be a precurser to schizophrenia.
Something else I want to mention is that some people with autism can
have psychotic reactions to medications that most people tolerate well.
About six month ago was an article in slate about a teen with aspergers
who hada psychotic reaction to (I believe) an antidepressant and spent
the next few years in psyciatric units getting worse until he was correctly
diagnosed and detoxed at Rochester Mayo clinic. So if your son has been
getting any medications before the new diagnosis of schizophrenia it
might be worth researching if he is having an atypical reaction.

My son's psychiatrist said that it's typical for schizophrenics to hear voices more than to see things. He also said that schizophrenia is rare when there is autism present, but of course nothing is unheard of. SInce you have neurobiological disorders in the family, it would certainly be a good idea to get a firm diagnosis from a physician who is an expert. Schizophrenia is know to be present in families where autism also exists. And schizophrenia often occurs at just the age your son is. It certainly would be a good idea to have it officially ruled out or in. Fortunately, there are much better meds for schizophrenia these days than in even the recent past. Let us know how it goes.

They are trying a new medication on Bob they took him off Zyprexa and started Risperdal, Right now he seems just really tired from all the changes. He is also taking Abilify and ativan. No more Seroquel either just updating still no idea when he will come home. All your stories really help to know im not alone. I think it is so hard when you have more than 1 thing wrong it just confusses the doctor. More LAter LanetteI am sorry. You are right that it is harder to medicate appropriatly for
more than one condition but with some trial and error people usually find
a combination that works for them. I also read a few weeks ago that a
new schizophrenia drug has passed first trials with flying colors (and no
side-effects) and it is an entierly new category of drugs that works not
only for symptoms like paranoia and voices but also on the negative
symptoms like lack of energy. It will probably still be a few years but I do
think that medications are really improving. Hang in there and let us
know.[QUOTE=Hmschlmama2five]

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This is really interesting and the first I'd heard of connections of this sort. My son's father is borderline Aspergers and also has manic depression and OCD. I'm prone to bouts of extreme depression and both my parents have clinical depression. There's definitely some link there.

Stezzy39353.4931134259Well Bob did not come home, his heart rate is to high from the medication, so they took him off risperdol. now they are deciding what to do next but they do think he is for sure Schizophrenic Will keep updating even though i probably need to find schizophrenic place to hang out I cant believe they don't think he is pdd/nos that he was always (schiz) it just now surfaced. Well better go thanks for all the good thoughts. Lanette Oh, I'm sorry he couldn't come home yet. Hang in there. I hope they get this figured out soon.Today they put Bob back on depakote along with abilify,and risperdale. Anyone else on this combo? He is suppose to come home on Monday,we'll see Lanette

Abilify and Risperdal are really the same medication. I understand that Abilify sometimes has fewer or weaker side effects. I know nothing about depakote. Before your son comes home, insist on getting the FULL lowdown on all his drugs and on what you can do at home to avoid having to send him back. Make as sure as you can that he is ready to come home. If not, INSIST that they keep him until he IS ready.

After reading many of the post I wanted to say that my son who is now 9 and has PDD/AS features we were told that it is more likely that he will carry a dual diagnosis as he gets older and schizophrenia was one of the main ones the doctor brought up to us. There have been times when he said he saw things but not so much that he heard voices in his head but he does have conversations with the air or I guess himself. He has some phobias mainly school phobia but he does suffer from a lot of anxiety issues. I guess time will tell and we will deal with what ever he goes through at the time it happens. My best to you and your family.Im sorry your having such a hard time right now oh nette what a time for you and your family
we are in the same boat

our ds is going back to some bizarre thinking as he comes slowly OFF of his Zyprexa
we are in a board and care program which has the goal of eventually having him live at home again but it will be another year i think before we get there
they are taking him off all meds. and then see how he is and start from scratch it is a long process with the meds. isn't it?

he may always need other people take care from him as his behaviors at home are too risky and we have a dd who is four
but to know that he is safe right now and that we are safe is all we can do
he actually thrives on the structure and outings the staff provide
I can't keep up such a pace so it is a relief that he can enjoy himself in between our family visits

Hang in there!

It's good to hear he's home from the hospital, but I'm sure it's still worrisome, especially with the physical problems (blood pressure, etc.) on top of everything else.

Thanks for the update. I hope things keep getting better and better for you and also for julieontheline.