Can a 9 year old develop schizophrenia?

My friends daughter was on the Metro and it was very hot and humid when she started banging her head repeating "a voice is telling me its too hot and I should bang my head until I die". She had been complaining of a "Brain thing" where she hears her own life in narrative voice. The voice is usually her own or one of her family members. This time it was a voice she didn't recognize. There are other people in her family with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

she is sort of young for it - but it is possible , especially since it runs in the family.

Of course, she may have also SEEN this behavior in the family and be copying it. You need a psychiatrist to decide what is really going on.

Could be early signs. Schizophrenia usually start comming on in the teens or twentys.

Well its not very likely to be schizophrenia because most people do not develop it until they are in their 20's. Bipolar is just when you go from being extremely hyper to depressed, so that does not include hearing voices. The best suggestion I can give is to take her to a therapist to get her mental health evaluated. Considering her age it could be many different things.

Yes, it is possible, while unlikely. I had a llittle girl in my girl scout troop, I am an assistant scout leader, that was schizophrenic and bipolar. With medication she was able to function in the group although she was very quite and subdued due to the medicine. Both Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder is known to run in families.

I strongly suggest a trip to a psycologist, or a family therapist.

Statistics say childhood schizophrenia is very rare, 2 in about 30,000 kids. Psychologist and psychiatrist working together should help if problems persist. Statistics also say 25% of kids who consistently present psychotic symptoms as children develop schizo disorders as adults. Through no fault of their own, life can be quite hard for some.