Childhood disintegrative disorder misdiagnosed as childhood-onset schizophrenia

Abstract

Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) is a rare pervasivedevelopmental disorder, which is often misdiagnosed as schizophrenia,probably. due to the resultant severe social impairment and withdrawnbehaviour with stereotypys that could be mistaken for psychosis. Wereport a case of CDD that was misdiagnosed by a psychiatrist aschildhood onset schizophrenia and treated with high doses ofantipsychotics. The patient did not show any improvement This highlightsethical issues that arise from treatment modalities, with polypharmacybeing the biggest culprit and also points to the need to continuemedical education at the level of primary health services and amongpractising rural doctors where tertiary centres with child guidancefacilities and a multidisciplinary team are not available.