![]() |
|
November 30th, 2010
02:37 PM ET
Is my 10-year-old hearing voices serious?Every weekday, a CNNHealth expert doctor answers a viewer question. On Tuesdays, it's Dr. Charles Raison, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, and an expert in the mind-body connection for health. My son is 10 and while he was home sick with a sinus/cold, he came out of the bathroom and looked very scared and sad. Later he told me he feels like a voice is telling him to take a knife and stab himself. He told me he would never do it because he is strong enough to overcome it. The only medication I gave him today was Sudafed PE and Advil - two each. He is a sweet, intelligent, funny child. Can this be serious? Dear Bobby, As often happens, I find myself having to tell you that I have no definitive answer to your question; first because no one can read the future with certainty and second because I don't know enough about your son's situation to make an educated guess. Given these constraints, let me talk to you in general about things that would make me feel more or less worried about the episode you describe. It is not uncommon for children to report an isolated episode of hearing a voice or having a strange idea. I say this based on a discussion of the issue with several leaders in the field of child psychiatry. The content of the voice your son heard is a little more worrisome because it is violent. It worries me because I don't want him to do anything to hurt himself, and it worries me because encouraging self-harm is one of the most common things that genuine psychotic "voices" tell people. If the episode is isolated and nothing else happens, I don't think you have much to worry about. The fact that you had given him medicine that can affect mental functioning (Sudafed in this case) is also encouraging, because that might be an explanation for his experience. Here are things that would make me worry more. If there is a history of psychosis in your family, I would be more concerned about your son's experience. Most people with psychosis are diagnosed as either schizophrenic or bipolar, so if either of these runs extensively in your son's close blood relatives, I'd be more concerned. If your son has repeated episodes of reporting a voice or having other strange experiences, my level of concern would go way up. If your son is beginning to demonstrate other odd behaviors or is withdrawing from people, I'd also worry. So, if any of these risk factors is relevant to your son's situation, I'd take him to a child psychiatrist for an evaluation. If, on the other hand, his experience is isolated and all is well otherwise, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it - especially given the Sudafed exposure. I'd just reassure your son and tell him to let you know if anything like that ever happens again. If he has a second episode, I'd take him for professional help, just to be on the safe side. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. |
|
May I simply say what a comfort to discover a person that really understands what they are discussing online. You certainly know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More and more people have to read this and understand this side of the story. I can't believe you are not more popular because you surely possess the gift.
http://wordpalette.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=bestlocalnearme.com
http://avnet-mts.net/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=www.wholesalenearme.com
http://respekkt.mbnet.fi/ciderbook/go.php?url=https://bestshopnearme.com
http://ihearido.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=bestshopnearme.com
I absolutely love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself? Please reply back as Iím trying to create my very own blog and would like to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Cheers!
http://media.lannipietro.com/album.aspx?album=namibia2011&return=https://www.bonus-books.com
https://europe.google.com/url?sa=j&source=web&rct=j&url=https://hootnholler.net
http://gov2go.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=reviewnearme.com/
http://www.stigdb.org/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=hootnholler.net
http://3dcutting.net/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=sprintervanrepair.com
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS. I donít understand the reason why I cannot join it. Is there anyone else having identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!
http://htcdev.com/?URL=midevilvapes.com/
There is certainly a lot to know about this topic. I like all of the points you have made.
https://www.otohits.net/home/redirectto?url=https://www.blowoutvapes.com/
You've made some good points there. I checked on the net for more info about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.
https://telecom.uu.ru/?a%5B%5D=<a+href=http://juicycalls.com
https://ww17.tudominio.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=www.ocrv.store
Good info. Lucky me I found your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I have bookmarked it for later!
https://profitquery.com/share/?url=http://ocrv.biz/
Great site you have got here.. Itís hard to find quality writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate people like you! Take care!!
http://www.earth-policy.org/?URL=https://www.ocrvmotorsports.org
An outstanding share! I've just forwarded this onto a friend who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast because I discovered it for him... lol. So let me reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this issue here on your website.
http://www.dorsten.de/Externer_Link.asp?ziel=http://www.lifebusinessfitness.com
Hi there, I think your website might be having web browser compatibility problems. Whenever I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Besides that, wonderful blog!
https://bonus-books.com/tax-relief-helpers-dallas/
This website was... how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I've found something that helped me. Appreciate it!
https://www2.golflink.com.au/out.aspx?frm=logo&target=http://ocrvcenter.com/industrial-truck-collision-repair-shop-near-me
http://salesnews.qantas.com/public/m/closed?msLRR=http://ingenieurleistungenreiter.de/index.php?option=com_phocaguestbook&view=phocaguestbook&id=1&Itemid=4&t=740)&limitstart=81420
http://www.menedzserpraxis.hu/sharing/?menu=email&url=www.ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-encino-california/
http://telecom.uu.ru/?a%5B%5D=<a+href=http://www.ocrvcenter.com/shuttle-bus-collision-repair-shop-near-me/
Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this content together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worth it!
http://ru.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=ocrvcenter.com/rv-maintenance-near-me
http://migrantcinema.net.gridhosted.co.uk/?URL=ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-pacoima-california
https://redirects.tradedoubler.com/utm/td_redirect.php?td_keep_old_utm_value=1&url=https://mobileimg.com/mypictures/index.php?/guestbook&start=356385
https://www.xcelenergy.com/stateselector?stateselected=true&goto=www.ocrvcenter.com/terrastar-collision-repair-shop-near-me/
http://week.co.jp/skion/cljump.php?clid=129&url=ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-lomita-california/
May I simply say what a relief to find an individual who truly understands what they're talking about online. You definitely understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you're not more popular since you surely possess the gift.
http://www.urm.org/n/november-splash/?redirect_to=https://ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-san-dimas-california/
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post! It's the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
http://yellowpages.oakridger.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=https://ocrvcenter.com/class-a-collision-repair-shop-near-me
https://www.radar.techcabal.com/clicks/track?url=https://ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-woodland-hills-california/
Pretty! This was a really wonderful article. Thanks for supplying this information.
https://frankmiller.tv/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=http://ocrvcenter.com
Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening. I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this short article together. I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
https://www.variglog.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=http://ocrvcenter.com/
https://www.nfaap.org/sso/sso.aspx?nfredirect=www.ocrvcenter.com
http://www.auvsicanada.org/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=www.ocrvcenter.com/
https://www.kudzuenterprises.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=http://www.ocrvcenter.com
Excellent web site you have got here.. Itís difficult to find excellent writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
http://mp3cafe.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=https://ocrvcenter.com
Wonderful post! We will be linking to this great article on our website. Keep up the great writing.
https://www.orphus.ru/redir.php?ocrvcenter.com/
http://loopbaan.dezorggroep.nl/redirect.php?from=www.ocrvcenter.com/good-sam-rv-collision-repair-shop-near-me/
This website certainly has all the info I needed about this subject and didnít know who to ask.
https://offers.sidex.ru/stat_ym_new.php?redir=https://www.ocrvcenter.com/social-media/&hash=1577762
https://www.adminer.org/redirect/?url=ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-anaheim-california
I absolutely love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you develop this site yourself? Please reply back as Iím planning to create my own personal site and would like to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Thanks!
https://catalog-display.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=https://www.ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-west-hollywood-california/
https://openforbusinessmagazine01.businesscatalyst.com/Redirect.aspx?destination=ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-oceanside-california/
http://www.commissionsoup.com/opts.aspx?t=P6MCR2&u=http://www.ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-rialto-california
http://www.happystatesofamerica.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=https://www.ocrvcenter.com
I'd like to thank you for the efforts you've put in penning this website. I'm hoping to view the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal blog now 😉
http://stg.cablegate.tv/pc/recommend_detail.php?catvid=964GG6Vi&si=8&bindex=1531659&networkid=65534&serviceid=232&tsid=65029&supplierid=pe&url=ocrvcenter.com/rv-repair-shop-arcadia-california/
Hi, I believe your blog could possibly be having internet browser compatibility problems. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it's got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, excellent blog!
http://www.flash.wakunavi.net/rank.cgi?mode=link&id=333&url=https://bestservicenearme.com
Your style is unique in comparison to other people I've read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this site.
http://www.terracoat.biz/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=masternearme.com/
http://disconnect-reconnect.net/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=bestservicenearme.com
http://faith4work.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=www.bestshopnearme.com/
http://safeurl.co.uk/redirect.aspx?url=https://reviewnearme.com
This website was... how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I've found something that helped me. Thanks a lot!
http://www.kikitchew.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=masternearme.com