Introduction
Early-onset schizophrenia (EOS), defined by an onset before 18 years of age, has been mostly reported as a disorder with a poorer prognosis than adult-onset schizophrenia. According to a recent systematic review, only 15.4% of EOS patients experienced a “good” long-term outcome, while 24.5% experienced a “moderate” outcome and 60.1% a “poor” outcome.1 The prevalence of EOS has not been adequately studied.2 Some authors have reported that up to 20% of individuals with schizophrenia become ill prior to 18 years of age,3 which constitutes a significant minority that deserves special attention.