Schizotypal Personality Disorder

DisclaimerThis page is not here to be used as a self-diagnosis, self-identification, or promotion - it's simply here to be informational. Whether or not one self-diagnoses, self-identifies, and/or seeks a professional diagnosis is up to them.UnrealityThe following page includes discussions of unreality, including delusions, hallucinations, derealization, and depersonalization. If you are uncomfortable or get triggered by this topic, it is recommended to not read this page.

**Schizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD)** is a mental health condition characterized by a consistent pattern of intense discomforts with relationships and social interactions. Individuals with STPD have unusual thoughts, speech and behaviors, which usually hinder their ability to form and maintain relationships.

### Schizotypal Personality Disorder vs Schizophrenia

Schizotypal personality disorder is frequently confused with schizophrenia. While individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may experience brief psychotic episodes with delusions and hallucinations, the episodes are not as frequent, prolonged or intense as in schizophrenia.

Another key distinction is that individuals with schizotypal personality disorder usually can be made aware of the difference between their distorted ideas and reality. Those with schizophrenia generally can't be swayed away from their delusions.

Despite the differences, individuals with schizotypal personality disorder can benefit form treatments similar to those used for schizophrenia.

## Signs & Symptoms

Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder experience intense discomfort and distress in social situations. They have a lot of difficulties forming close relationships and maintaining them, partially due to a distorted interpretation of social interactions, as well as odd social behavior.

An individual with schizotypal personality disorder may:

* Have intense social anxiety and poor social relationships.
* Not have close friends or confidants, except for first-degree relatives.
* Have peculiar behaviors and mannerisms.
* Have odd thoughts and speech, such as excessively abstract or concrete phrases or using phrases or words in unusual ways.
* Have unusual perceptive experiences and magical beliefs, such as thinking they have special paranormal powers.
* Incorrectly interpret ordinary situations or happenings as having special meaning for them.
* Be paranoid and suspicious of others' intentions.
* Have difficulty with responding appropriately to social cues, such as making eye contact.
* Have a lack of motivation and underachieve in education and work settings.

An individual with STPD generally lacks awareness about how their thoughts and behaviors impact others.

### Diagnosis

For doctors to diagnose schizotypal personality disorder, individuals must be intensely uncomfortable with and have very few close relationships and have odd thinking and behavior. They must also have at least five of the following:

* Ideas of reference.
* Odd beliefs or magical thinking.
* Distorted perceptions.
* Odd thoughts or speech.
* Suspicious or paranoid thoughts.
* Inappropriate or limited expression of emotions.
* Odd, eccentric, or peculiar behavior and/or appearance.
* Lack of close friends or confidants, except for first-degree relatives.
* Excessive social anxiety that does not lessen with familiarity and is related mainly to paranoid fears.

Also, symptoms must have begun by early adulthood.

Doctors must distinguish schizotypal personality disorder with schizophrenia, which causes similar, but more severe symptoms.

## Causes

Personality disorders, including schizotypal personality disorder, are among the least understood mental health conditions. Researchers are still trying to figure out the exact cause of them, but believe they develop due to several factors.

Researchers think the cause of STPD is mainly biological and genetic because it shares many of the brain changes characteristic of schizophrenia. STPD is more common among biological relatives of individuals with schizophrenia or Cluster A personality disorders, which suggests a genetic link.

## References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizotypal-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353919

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23061-schizotypal-personality-disorder

https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/mental-health-disorders/personality-disorders/schizotypal-personality-disorder