A Guide to Mental Illness - Schizotypal Personality Disorder

DESCRIPTION

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by the sufferer's need for social isolation and strange beliefs or behaviour.^[1]A schizotypal person may seem eccentric and a loner.^[2]

CAUSES

A schizotypal person may have not developed social abilities when they were young and have become a target for teasing or bullying.^[3] This person may come to see other people as a source of unhappiness and humiliation and will not become part of mainstream society and social circles, developing irrational ideas and beliefs.^[1]

SYMPTOMS

A person who is schizotypal can appear eccentric & unsociable with irrational ideologies and beliefs.^[2][3] They may feel as if everyone is ridiculing them.^[2] A schizotypal person may appear to be schizophrenic.[3] Someone with this disorder may belief in witchcraft, aliens, the undead or other supernatural or superstitious ideas. They can appear severely disturbed and may me be shunned by the majority of society. They may be overly suspicious and paranoid, and struggle in social situations, and may dress or speak oddly. They often have no close friends.^[3]

PREVALENCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY

It is not known what the actual cause of this disorder is, but those who were not socially stimulated as children by their parents^[1] or have a family history of schizophrenia may be more at risk^[3].

TREATMENT

It can be treated, but this is difficult as due to the untrusting nature of the patient they may not want to initiate treatment or will not feel that their doctor is helping them. Medication and therapy is used but generally therapy is the most effective.^[3] Schizotypal treatment does not often help patients become more comfortable in social situations, so the therapy will help the schizotypal sufferer live a satisfying solitary life. In therapy the patient will be helped to understand that their strange beliefs may be wrong or irrational, and will also be helped to develop more normal speech patterns.^[3] Treatment can also include self-help groups and family self help. This disorder can severely damage the patients ability to hold down a career so services such as housing and vocational assistance are often supplied.^[3]

SOURCES