Schizotypal personality disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder

overview

People with schizotypal personality disorder are often described as strange or eccentric and usually have few, if any, close relationships. They generally do not understand how relationships are formed or the impact their behavior has on others. They may also misinterpret the motivations and behaviors of others and develop significant distrust of others.

These problems can lead to severe anxiety and a tendency to avoid social situations because the person with schizotypal personality disorder tends to have particular beliefs and may have difficulty responding appropriately to social cues.

Schizotypal personality disorder is typically diagnosed in early adulthood and is likely to persist throughout the lifespan, although treatments such as medication and therapy can improve symptoms.

Symptoms

Schizotypal personality disorder typically includes five or more of these signs and symptoms:

• Ein Einzelgänger zu sein und keine engen Freunde außerhalb der unmittelbaren Familie zu haben
• Flache Emotionen oder begrenzte oder unangemessene emotionale Reaktionen
• Anhaltende und übermäßige soziale Angst
• Falsche Interpretation von Ereignissen, z. B. das Gefühl, dass etwas, das eigentlich harmlos oder harmlos ist, eine direkte persönliche Bedeutung hat
• Eigenartige, exzentrische oder ungewöhnliche Denkweisen, Überzeugungen oder Manierismen
• Misstrauische oder paranoide Gedanken und ständige Zweifel an der Loyalität anderer
• Glaube an besondere Kräfte, wie mentale Telepathie oder Aberglauben
• Ungewöhnliche Wahrnehmungen, wie z. B. die Anwesenheit einer abwesenden Person zu spüren oder Illusionen zu haben
• Sich auf seltsame Weise kleiden, z. B. ungepflegt erscheinen oder seltsam zusammenpassende Kleidung tragen
• Eigenartiger Sprachstil, wie z. B. vage oder ungewöhnliche Sprechmuster oder seltsames Geschwätz während Gesprächen

Signs and symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder, such as: Other symptoms, such as increased interest in solitary activities or high levels of social anxiety, may be observed in the teenage years. The child may be underperforming in school or not keeping up socially with peers, which may result in teasing or bullying.

Schizotypal personality disorder vs. schizophrenia

Schizotypal personality disorder can easily be confused with schizophrenia, a serious mental illness in which people lose touch with reality (psychosis). While people with schizotypal personality disorder may experience brief psychotic episodes involving delusions or hallucinations, the episodes are not as frequent, long-lasting, or intense as those in schizophrenia.

Another important difference is that people with schizotypal personality disorder can usually be made aware of the difference between their distorted ideas and reality. People with schizophrenia generally cannot be dissuaded from their delusions.

Despite the differences, people with schizotypal personality disorder may benefit from treatments similar to those for schizophrenia. Schizotypal personality disorder is sometimes considered to be on a spectrum with schizophrenia, with schizotypal personality disorder considered to be less severe.

When to go to the doctor?

People with schizotypal personality disorder are likely to seek help only at the urging of friends or family members. Or people with schizotypal personality disorder seek help for another problem, such as depression. If you suspect that a friend or family member may have the disorder, you can gently suggest that the person seek medical attention, starting with a primary care physician or psychologist.

If you need immediate help

If you are concerned about harming yourself or someone else, go to an emergency room immediately or call 911 or your local emergency number. Or call a suicide hotline. In the United States, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use their web chat at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.

Causes

Personality is the combination of thoughts, emotions and behaviors that makes you unique. It is the way you see, understand and relate to the outside world, as well as how you see yourself. Personality develops in childhood, shaped by an interplay of inherited dispositions and environmental factors.

During normal development, children learn over time to interact appropriately with others, to interpret social signals, and to respond appropriately and flexibly to social situations. What exactly goes wrong for a person with schizotypal personality disorder is not known for certain, but it is likely that changes in the way brain functions, genetics, environmental influences, and learned behaviors play a role.

Risk factors

Your risk of schizotypal personality disorder may be greater if you have a relative who suffers from schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.

Complications

People with schizotypal personality disorder are at increased risk of:

• Depression
• Angst
• Andere Persönlichkeitsstörungen
• Schizophrenie
• Vorübergehende psychotische Episoden, normalerweise als Reaktion auf Stress
• Probleme mit Alkohol oder Drogen
• Selbstmordversuche
• Arbeit, Schule, Beziehung und soziale Probleme

Sources:

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