Schizotypal Personality Disorder


Diagnostic Features:

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a condition characterized by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior. This disorder is only diagnosed when these behaviors become persistent and very disabling or distressing.

Complications:

Individuals with this disorder often seek treatment for the associated symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other negative emotions rather than for the personality disorder features per se.

Comorbidity:

In response to stress, individuals with this disorder may experience very brief psychotic episodes (lasting minutes to hours). If the psychotic episode lasts longer, this disorder may actually develop into Brief Psychotic Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder or Schizophrenia. Individuals with this disorder are at increased risk for Major Depressive Disorder. Other Personality Disorders (especially Schizoid, Paranoid, Avoidant, and Borderline) often co-occur with this disorder.


Prevalence:

Schizoid Personality Disorder occurs in 3% of the general population. This disorder occurs slightly more commonly in males.

Course:

This disorder may first appear in childhood and adolescence with solitariness, poor peer relationships, social anxiety, underachievement in school, hypersensitivity, peculiar thoughts and language, and bizarre fantasies. These children may appear "odd" or "eccentric" and attract teasing. The course of this disorder is chronic. Only a small proportion of individuals with this disorder go on to develop Schizophrenia or another Psychotic Disorder.


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By I'm the penguin
Thanks very much to: Internet Mental health http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-pe03.html