Asperger's and schizophrenia.

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Yes, and actually children can be diagnosed with schizophrenia - it's just a lot rarer than in adults/adolescents.

I've read about childhood schizophrenia being misdiagnosed as autism and vice versa. Very similar. I don't know how the psychiatrists differentiate unless it has something to do with delusions or hallucinations. Those two symptoms are usually needed by a psychiatrist before they label someone with "schizophrenia".

Yeah, but true schizophrenia in childhood is really rare. For every case of childhood schizophrenia, you'll find nearly 300 autistic children. It's the kind of thing you write journal articles about. Plus... childhood schizophrenia usually has onset at age 7 or later; autism is evident before 5.

IMO they should just call all childhood schizophrenia autistic spectrum and make schizophrenia an age onset catagory, or they should should just put all of it, autism and schizophrenia on the autistic spectrum.

That doesn't make much sense. A child having hallucinations and delusions is obviously not autistic.

For one thing, persons who develop schizophrenia often have soft signs in their youth. This reminds me of children with mild autism.

Hi there,

SteelMaiden wrote or asked; "How many "traits" or "symptoms" do Asperger's and schizophrenia share?"

First; I find it a bit strange he tags you with both labels. I thought, one should exclude the other, (DSM-IV says so) although, I know, there are simularities. Commonalities.

I know I am not schizophrenic and it's probably easier to sum up some differences but that's not the question.

I quess:
~Both know real confusion, misinterpretations and frustration.
~Both have or better know ambiguity.
~Both can go into a somewhat passive state, sometimes. Even a sort of katatony state with a avolonish mindset without any intrinsic motivation.
~Aloofness is a trait said to be seen by both.
~Both can have delusions but the AS-er can detect them much better, I belief, and tries to be far more logical in solving the dillema(s). Sceptical even of his/her own thoughts, where someone with schizophrenia, tjah... seeks answers in maybe, some bizarre assumptions and is maybe more drawn to the occult, superstition and somewhat odd believes.
~Both know compulsion, of thought and maybe also of actions, not sure the Schizophrenic does.
~

Of course I'm no expert on the topic; it has my interest but I could be wrong on some points here.

Last, I like to say that psychologists/ shrinks think their field of work is an exact science. Which is wrong. Psychology isn't like physics or maths where one seeks empirical proof and, let's say, tests can be repeated (under the same conditions) and the results will be the same.

Shrinks are by definition arbitrary, it is his/her perspective of someone and some are real arrogant and do not seem to care that much about someone's wellbeing. Box-thinkers and easy taggers. Where I think we're all different and I dislike being boxed-up(?). I'm Ceesjan and that the only label that suit me right and the only label I accept to carry. Okay, I have a framework now and I learn everyday about autism in general and AS in perticular. Here on this Planet, from you guys and of course my own studies, out of books or internet. It's a fascinating trip....

Best of luck,
C.

If a cat or dog sees/hears it, it's not a hallucination.

I like this [extremely] basic comparison:

People with Schizophrenia are unsure if what they experience is real or not (seeing, thinking, hearing, etcetera), whereas the person with Asperger's/Autism doesn't realize that people have different thoughts from her own (i.e., she doesn't behave as if other people are unique individuals in the "mild" cases, to appearing as if people don't exist at all in the "severe" cases).

There are social deficits in Scizophrenia (mainly Schizoid behaviour), as well as the "flat affect", and these can mimic Asperger's/Autism, but the social deficits in the latter are more severe/profound, and with a whole slew of extra stuff attached.

i do not think AS and schizophrenia could co-exist.

to be schizophrenic is to have no sense of self.
their self becomes absorbed in the wash of reality, and they lose control and become scared.
they are swamped by the waves of existence because they have no self boundaries.

autistics are very fortified and are not prone to melt into the foundations of their standing.

the coexistence of the 2 in a single person is hard for me to imagine.

that is my opinion only.