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Schizotypal Personality Disorder

DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

A pervasive pattern of interpersonal deficits marked by discomfort with and reduced capacity for close relationships as well as perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior, beginning by early adulthood. At least five of the following should be present.

Ideas of reference: Interpreting unrelated events as having direct reference to the patient such as the television is talking directly to them.

Odd beliefs or magical thinking inconsistent with cultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy or "sixth sense").

Unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions.

Odd thinking and speech (e.g., vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, over-elaborate, or stereotyped thinking)

Suspiciousness or paranoid ideation

Inappropriate or constricted affect

Behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric.

Lack of close friends other than first-degree relatives

Excessive social anxiety that does not

Clinical Features of Schizotypal Personality Disorder

  1. These patients often display peculiarities in thinking, behavior and communication
  2. Discomfort in social situations, and inappropriate behavior may occur.
  3. Magical thinking, belief in "extra sensory perception", illusions and derealization are common.
  4. Familiarity does not decrease social anxiety since it is based on paranoid concerns and not self-consciousness.
  5. The patient may have a vivid fantasy life with imaginary relationships.
  6. Speech may be idiosyncratic such as unusual use of phrasing or terminology.
Epidemiology of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
  1. These patients may seek treatment for anxiety or depression.
  2. It may be a pre-morbid condition in schizophrenia.
  3. This disorder is more common in relatives of Schizophrenics.
Differential Diagnosis of Schizotypal Personality Disorder

 

  1. Schizoid and Avoidant Personality Disorder: Schizoid and avoidant patients will not display the oddities of behavior, perception and communication. Schizotypal patients.
  2. Schizophrenia: No formal thought disorder is present in personality disorders. When psychosis is present in Schizotypal patients, it is of brief duration.
  3. Paranoid Personality Disorder: Patients with Paranoid personality disorder will not display the oddities of behavior, perception and communication of Schizotypal patients. Unlike Schizotypals, Paranoid patients can be very verbal.