This disorder is also known as Schizotypal disorder. Like the other disorders classed under the cluster A personality disorders, the behaviors of someone with this disorder may seem eccentric and unusual to outsiders. People who suffer from Schizotypal personality disorder tend to feel uncomfortable in relationships, having difficulty connecting with people and preferring to keep their distance. Similar to Paranoid personality disorder, this is because they often believe that other people harbor negative thoughts and feelings towards them, though they may have no evidence to support this. They may also exhibit what to many can appear as strange behaviors, such as unusual speech mannerisms, talking to themselves, and dressing oddly. Occurring in about 3% of the population, many people with this disorder frequently suffer from ideas of reference, or often interpret certain incidents or situations as having deeper significance or meaning. Often going hand-in-hand with superstitions or belief in the paranormal, many people with Schizotypal disorder don’t see their symptoms as a disorder. In order to be diagnosed with Schizotypal personality disorder, you must have five or more of the following symptoms outside of a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar, or depressive disorder. As with every disorder, a licensed therapist is needed to make a formal diagnosis.
- The belief that coincidences or random events have greater personal significance and meaning.
- Odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is not consistent with norms in the surrounding culture.
- Unusual perceptual experience including but not limited to bodily illusions
- Odd thinking or speech such as metaphorical, stereotypical, or over-elaborated.
- Suspicious or paranoid ideation.
- Inappropriate or constricted affect.
- Behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric or peculiar.
- Lack of close friends or confidants other than family.
- Excessive social anxiety that doesn’t diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than a judgment of self.
As stated above, many people who suffer from Schizotypal personality disorder don’t believe that their behaviors are the symptoms of a disorder and, therefore, don’t seek therapy for them. It is far more common for someone suffering from the disorder to seek out therapy for disorders that are comorbid or co-occurring with it. They may seek out help for their depression, anxiety, or social phobia long before they seek out help for their other behaviors that are symptoms of Schizotypal personality disorder. Due to this, therapists have more knowledge about the use of medication and therapy in treatment of Schizotypal personality disorder than other cluster A disorders. Usually when a patient with Schizotypal personality disorder is prescribed medication, it is medication commonly used to treat schizophrenia. While these medications can be helpful in the short-term, studies have shown that long-term use can cause impairment in daily functioning. According to Theodore Millon, a well-known American psychologist who primarily worked with personality disorders, Schizotypal personality disorder is one of the easiest to identify but the hardest to treat. This is due to the fact that the patient doesn’t believe they have a disorder, so building up the rapport needed for therapy with them is difficult. Group therapy can help, but the group should be well-structured and supportive. However, these potential difficulties shouldn’t stop you or your loved one from reaching out to a therapist if you believe you or they meet the diagnostic criteria listed above. Even if the patient has no desire to seek treatment for their symptoms for Schizotypal personality disorder, there is a high likelihood that they’re suffering from another disorder and would benefit from having that disorder treated.
