Schizotypal+Personality+Disorder

Schizotypal Personality Disorder
=﻿Description= Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by an ongoing pattern in which the affected person distances him-or-herself from social and interpersonal relationships. Affected people typically have an acute discomfort when put in circumstances where they must relate to others. These individuals are also prone to cognitive and peceptual distortions and a display of eccentric behaviours that others find confusing.

People with this Cluster A pesonality disorder, are more comfortable turning inward, away from others, than learning to have meaningful, interpersonal relationships. This preferred isolation contributes to distorted perceptions about how interpersonal reationships are supposed to happen. They remain on the periphery of life and often drift from one aimless activity to another with few, if any, meaningful relationships. (Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, 2010)

Schizotypal personality disorder should not be confused with schizophrenia. People with schizotypal personality disorder tend to have odd beliefs and behaviours but they are not disconnected from reality and usually do not hallucinate. (Medline Plus, October 17, 2008)

[[image:schizotypal.jpg align="right"]]**__DSM-IV-TR__**
[]
 * 1) A pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
 * 2) ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference)
 * 3) odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is inconsistent with subcultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy, or "sixth sense"; in children and adolescents, bizarre fantasies or preoccupations)
 * 4) unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions
 * 5) odd thinking and speech (e.g., vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, overelaborate, or stereotyped)
 * 6) suspiciousness or paranoid ideation
 * 7) inappropriate or constricted affect
 * 8) behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar
 * 9) lack of close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives
 * 10) excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self
 * 11) Does not occur exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia, a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, another Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
 * Note:** If criteria are met prior to the onset of Schizophrenia, add "Premorbid," e.g., "Schizotypal Personality Disorder (Premorbid)

=﻿Causes=

Schizotypal personlity disorder is believed to stem from the affected person's original family or family of origin. Usually parents of the affected person were emotionally distant, formal and confusing parental communication. This modeling of remote, unaffectionate relationships is then reenacted in the social relationships encountered in the developing years. This social development of people with schizotypal personality disorder shows that many were also regularly humiliated by their paents, siblings and peers resulting in significant relational mistrust. Many display low self-esteem and self-deprecating behaviour. This further contributes to a sense that they are socially incapable of having meaningful interpersonal relationships.

Features of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
- Socially anxious - Experience cognitive and perceptual distortion - Show oddities of speech - Inappropriate affective responses - Behave eccentrically

Treatments
This patient finds it difficult to engage and remain in treatment. For those higher-functioning individuals who seek treatment, the goal will be to help them function more effectively in relationships rather than restructuring their personality. (Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders 2010) - Medications: Doctors will prescribe antipsychotic or antidepressant medication for patients who have psychotic manifestations that are uncontrollable, like anxiety, depression or their distorted thinking. Once the drugs have it under control, they can begin using therapy. - Psychotherapy: is used to help build trust. - Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: focuses the person with schizotypal personality disorder to exercises that help tear down those distorted thoughts and paranoia. It helps clarify social confusion. - Family Therapy: sometimes this helps discrete any angry confrontations in the home. It will give the personality individual reassurance. - Group Therapy: is also a good form of therapy to help them see that they are not alone and gives them an ability to share their thoughts. (Helping Psychology - March 2009)

Prognosis
This is usually a chronic illness. The outcome of treatment varies based on the severity of the disorder. (Helping Psychology - March 2009)

media type="youtube" key="IJRQGxvTeT8" height="385" width="480"

[]