Childhood psychosis and long-term chemo and psychotherapy.

Childhood psychosis is a complex problem. The cases of any developmental deviations in children deserve its consideration. This type of child will need a multidisciplined approach involving the medical profession and those para-professionals in the educational area. The use of medication appears to be an important factor so that various other attempts at thereapy, such as speech, art, and education, can be better appreciated. Whether the child should also be labeled mentally retarded or not depends on the available facilities such as a residential center. It appears that with early detection and the start of appropriate doses of medication, that secondary mental retardation can be prevented and the deterioration to a more severe psychosis averted. Whether the psychotic picture in the long-term outlook can be stopped remains to be seen.