The Symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder

There are many people in this world that can be described as odd or eccentric. They appear to live in their own little made up worlds and their idiosyncrasies may be caused by Schizotypal Personality Disorder. 

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is often confused with Schizophrenia but it has few similarities to it. This disorder causes a person to be disconnected from reality and they usually don’t have hallucinations, delusions and a loss of touch with reality like those with Schizophrenia.  The symptoms vary by person and like with most illnesses it affects everyone differently.

The symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder usually begin in early adulthood and are peculiar thinking, beliefs or behavior, belief in special powers like telepathy, incorrect interpretation of events, suspicious or paranoid ideas, lack of close friends, persistent and excessive social anxiety, flat emotions and idiosyncratic speech. Symptoms may approve with age. Those who suffer from this disorder occasionally have brief exotic episodes and while they do speak coherently, they focus on trivial detail.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is treated with long-term psychotherapy and medications to ease the symptoms.  The exact cause is unknown.  Approximately half of the people with the disorder have a major depressive disorder.  Paranoid Personality Disorder is also common with Schizotypal Personality Disorder.

Paranoid Personality Disorder is characterized by pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others.  Those who have the disorder always feel like someone is out to get them in order to exploit them or cause them harm in some way.  They are difficult to get along with and have problems with close relationships.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder seems to occur more in individuals who have an immediate family member with Schizophrenia.  It currently affects three percent of the population and occurs slightly more in males.