Asperger syndrome and schizophrenia in a sixteen year old female - A case report

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects 1% of the population.In childhood and adolescence it is an extremely rare disease.This case shows a comorbidity between Schizophrenia and Asperger Syndrome.A sixteen year old female was admitted in a psychiatry unit in order to prevent suicide.The girl was delusional about her appearance. She felt like did not have hips and would like to die.She was always complaining as well about her hair and nose. She did not recognize herself as a girl.Efforts were made in order to persuade the patient about the inveracity of her ideas but she insisted with the thoughts.When asked, she affirmed to hear voices that cursed her and controlled her actions.She was first treated with risperidone 4 mg day without good response. Then she was given olanzapine 10 mg day with partial response. The best response was achieved with clozapine 400 mg day.The patient presented childish behavior. Could be noticed difficulty in social interaction and repetitive movements as rocking, spinning and hand - flapping.She did not presented signs of mental reatardation.Nowadays the patient did not present delusional ideas, her behavior is more stable. She is finishing the first grade at school and under the use of clozapine.