The schizotypal personality disorder characterized by the need for social isolation, anxiety in social situations, strange behaviors and thoughts, and often strange beliefs.
People with this disorder often seem strange to others and have ideas of reference; they think that unimportant events are related to them. They also have magical thinking, can have illusions, are often suspicious and have paranoid thoughts.
This disorder occurs in approximately 3% of the population and is somewhat more common in men. In a small proportion of cases, the schizotypal personality may be a precursor to schizophrenia, but it usually runs a stable course..
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Researchers do not currently know what specifically causes this disorder. Although there are several theories, most professionals support the biopsychosocial theory: the cause is due to biological, genetic, social and psychological factors.
Therefore, there would not be a single factor that is responsible for the disorder, but a combination of them.
This disorder is understood to be on the schizophrenic spectrum.
Rates of this disorder are higher in people with family members with schizophrenia than in people with family members with other disorders..
There is evidence to suggest that parental parenting style, early separation, trauma or abuse may lead to the development of equizotypal traits..
Over time, children learn to interpret social cues and respond appropriately, but for unknown reasons, this process does not work well for people with this disorder..
One study suggested that attention deficit may serve as a susceptible biological marker for this disorder. The reason is that a person who has difficulties receiving information may find it difficult to do so in social situations where attentive communication is essential for the quality of the interaction..
This can cause the person to isolate himself from social interactions, leading to asociality.
The most common symptoms in people with schizotypal personality disorder are:
-Reference ideas.
-Weird beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is not consistent with subcultural norms.
-Unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions.
-Weird thinking and language.
-Suspicion or paranoid ideation.
-Inappropriate or restricted affectivity.
-Odd, eccentric, or peculiar appearance or behavior.
-Lack of close friends or distrust, other than first-degree relatives.
-Excessive social anxiety.
According to the ICD-10 (WHO International Classification of Diseases) the symptoms are:
-Inappropriate affect; the person seems cold or distant.
-Behavior or appearance that is eccentric, strange, or quirky.
-Little relationship with others and tendency to isolate socially.
-Strange beliefs or magical thinking, influencing behaviors and inconsistent with subcultural norms.
-Suspicion and paranoid ideas.
-Obsessive rumination without internal resistance.
-Unusual perceptual bodily experiences or other illusions, depersonalization or derealization.
-Strange ways or behaviors.
This disorder can easily be confused with schizophrenia, a serious mental illness in which people lose contact with reality (psychosis).
Although people with schizotypal personality may experience brief episodes of delusions or hallucinations, they are not as frequent, prolonged and intense as in schizophrenia.
Another distinction is that people with a schizotypal personality are usually aware of the differences between their ideas and reality. People with schizophrenia often do not distinguish their ideas from reality.
Despite the differences, people with schizotypal personality may benefit from treatments similar to those for schizophrenia.
Theodore Millon proposes two subtypes of schizotypal personality. Anyone with a schizotypal personality can show any of the following subtypes.
Millon believes that it is rare that there is a pure variant, but rather a mixture of variants.
This is an exaggeration of the passive attachment pattern. Includes schizoid, depressive and dependent characteristics.
Personality traits: sense of strangeness, blankness, indifference.
It is an exaggeration of the active attachment pattern. Includes avoidance and negativity characteristics.
Personality traits: apprehension, vigilance, suspicion, isolation.
The treatments of choice for this personality disorder are:
According to Theodore Millon, the schizotypal is one of the simplest personality disorders to identify but one of the most difficult to treat with psychotherapy.
People with this disorder consider themselves simply eccentric, creative, or non-conformist..
Cognitive behavioral therapy will focus on identifying the content of thoughts.
Group therapy is recommended only if the group is well structured and cohesive. In addition, it is recommended that the person does not show severe eccentric behaviors.
Can give people the opportunity to experience other people's feedback in a controlled environment.
In deciding what type of medication should be used, Paul Markovitz distinguishes two basic groups of schizotypal patients:
Because the likelihood of personality change becomes less likely as the person ages, it is recommended to seek treatment by observing the first symptoms..
People with schizotypal personality do not usually seek treatment, rather they go to it due to the urgency of relatives or other close people.
This disorder is a chronic condition that normally requires lifelong treatment. People with this disorder are at risk of developing major depressive disorders or other personality disorders.
Factors that appear to increase the risk of developing schizotypal personality include:
At present, it is not known how to prevent this personality disorder..
However, assessing the risk of developing the disorder, such as having a family history with schizophrenia, may allow for early diagnosis and treatment..
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