The 10 Personality Disorders: Schizotypal Personality Disorder

This post is intended to list characteristics of personality disorders, causes & treatments.

*These are characteristics often observed in a personality disorder though every feature may not apply to each specific personality disorder. Appreciate what is of value to you in this post and leave the rest.

Individuals with a personality disorder often experience chronic, pervasive difficulty with relationships, impulse control, & emotions. The features may be present in childhood, often become prominent in teen years, but often a diagnosis is withheld until adulthood.  Typically, a personality disorder is in sync with one’s ego. Due to this the person may lack self-awareness and externalize the problems associated with their personality disorder. Personality disorders can co-occur.

In order for a diagnosis a person must exhibit difficulty in at least one of the four, (among other criteria specific to the personality disorder);

• Distorted thinking
• Problematic emotional responses
• Over or under regulated impulse control
• Interpersonal difficulties

Data supports that any person with a personality disorder is more likely to have a substance use disorder. Though, sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate which is causing the other. Personality disorders should be diagnosed with caution.

Personality disorders are grouped into clusters based on common similarities;

Cluster A: Social withdrawal or awkwardness driven by distorted thinking

• Paranoid Personality Disorder
• Schizoid Personality Disorder
• Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Cluster B: Dramatic, impulsive and emotional thinking/behavior

• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Histrionic Personality Disorder
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Cluster C: Driven by fear

• Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Dependent Personality Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

[Cluster A]

Symptoms

25% of those with schizotypal personality disorder will later be diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Article Here

Schizotypal Traits

• Few, if any close relationships
• Distrust of others
• Avoidant of social situations
• May not understand social cues
• Disorder is fairly equal between male and female
• Unique beliefs
• Loner
• Flat affect
• Inappropriate display of feelings
• Paranoid, suspicious, anxious
• Constricted emotional responses
• Misinterprets situations
• Unusual thinking and mannerisms
• May have some delusional thinking
• May fantasize or often be preoccupied
• May be disheveled
• May have unusual pattern of speech
• Social anxiety
• Socially out of step with peers
• Underachiever in school
• May be target of bullying

Causes

“What causes schizotypal personality disorder?

There does seem to be evidence of a genetic predisposition though similar to schizoid personal disorder, risk increases with those abused neglected or traumatized. It is widely accepted that cluster A personality disorders are caused by a combination of brain chemistry, genetics, childhood trauma, and environmental factors.

Treatment

Therapy & Medication

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT

Support groups | Can focus on skill building

Group therapy | May see how others magical thinking is irrational and begin to question their own

Family therapy | Can help family members become more supportive and more constructive

Medications | Most common are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications & low doses of anti-psychotics

Antipsychotics, specifically Zyprexa & Risperdal can be particularly helpful. Haldol and Abilify may also reduce symptoms. There is a fair amount of evidence that thiothixene can be helpful. Antipsychotics can help control symptoms like paranoia, magical thinking, anxiety and cognitive disturbances.

“How common is schizotypal personality disorder?”

Schizotypal personality disorder occurs in almost 4% of the general population in the United States. It may be slightly more common among men.

Source Here

Adam Lanza, who killed 28 people including his mother in the 2012 Sandy Hook Shooting, had numerous signs of schizotypal personality disorder

More on Adam Lanza

On a lighter note, one of America’s greatest poets, Emily Dickinson was also thought to have schizotypal personality disorder

There’s a certain Slant of light (1861)

There’s a certain Slant of light,
Winter Afternoons –
That oppresses, like the Heft
Of Cathedral Tunes –

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us –
We can find no scar,
But internal difference –
Where the Meanings, are –

None may teach it – Any –
’Tis the seal Despair –
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the Air –

When it comes, the Landscape listens –
Shadows – hold their breath –
When it goes, ’tis like the Distance
On the look of Death –

Emily Dickinson

More on Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder Questionnaire

For the other 9 personality Disorders or other mental health topics visit www.twoforsue.com