What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment 

Schizotypal personality disorder also goes by the name of eccentric personality disorder. Today, we’ll discuss what is schizotypal personality disorder; its symptoms, causes, and treatment.

What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder? 

Schizotypal personality disorder outlines the odd and eccentric behavior and thinking patterns, and such people have got very limited close relationships. Generally, they don’t know how relationships develop and make their impact on the behavior of others. They misinterpret and misunderstand the behaviors and motivation of others, and they develop a distrust of others.

Such issues result in the form of severe anxiety attacks and it makes them avoid social situations and events. People with STPD condition find it difficult to appropriately respond to the social cues and they hold peculiar beliefs.

The diagnosis of STPD condition is performed in earlier adulthood and the condition stays with you throughout your whole lifestyle. If you take proper medication and therapy, then it would improve the severity of the symptoms

Symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder 

A person with schizotypal personality disorder condition usually has five or more symptoms. Some of the main are as follows;

• Odd speech style like the unusual and vague way of speaking, and confused and incoherent behavior in the conversation
• Peculiar dressing like wearing oddly matches clothes and appearing untidy
• Unusual perceptions like having illusion and sensing the presence of the absent person
• Believing that you have special powers like superstitions and telepathy
• Doubtful, suspicious, and paranoid thoughts constantly about the loyalty of others
• Unusual, eccentric, and peculiar thinking, mannerisms, and beliefs
• Wrongly interpreting the event as an inoffensive thing has got direct personal meaning and feelings that a particular thing is harmless
• Excessive and persistent social anxiety
• Inappropriate or limited emotional responses or flat emotions
• Not having any friends outside of the immediate family members and being a loner

It’s important to mention here that the symptoms of a schizotypal personality disorder like a high level of social anxiety and high interest in solitary activities are common in teen years. The child would start performing low in school and start appearing socially out of the way with peers, and it results in the form of bullying or teasing.

Causes of Schizotypal Personality Disorder

The personality of a person is an integration of behavior, thoughts, emotions, and feelings that make a person unique. It’s the way how you relate, view, and understand yourself and the outside world. However, various environmental factors, inherent tendencies, and interactions shape and develop the personality of the person during childhood.

Children learn how to interpret social cues, respond carefully to the social situation with flexibility, and appropriately interact with other people over a period of time in normal child development. Things go wrong when the person with STPD condition doesn’t know these things.

It’s because the learned behavior, environmental influences, genetics, and changes in how the brain functions play their part in its development.

Complications 

People with STPD condition are at the risk of developing the following conditions;

• Social, relationship, school, and work problems
• Attempting suicide
• Problems with drugs and alcohol
• Psychotic episodes temporarily respond to the stress
• Schizophrenia
• Other types of personality disorders
• Anxiety
• Depression

Diagnosis of Schizotypal Personality Disorder 

Your doctor would examine you physically and inquire questions about your medical history. There are no particular tests for this condition, but your doctor would recommend other medical tests in order to rule out other physical conditions.

Your doctor would also recommend you to a trained mental health professional or a psychologist to diagnose the mental illness and devise a treatment plan for you. The psychologist would conduct a special interview by using special tools to diagnose the condition.

Treatment of Schizotypal Personality Disorder 

People rarely go to the doctor for the treatment of STPD conditions. When they do visit the doctor, it’s to treat the other symptoms like anxiety or depression. Some of the other treatment plans are as follows;

Medication

Often people with STPD condition also experience other types of conditions like depression and anxiety. The main treatment for personality disorder condition isn’t the medicines. Your doctor would prescribe you follow medicines;

• Gabapentin for seizures
• Benzodiazepine
• ADHD
• Methylphenidate
• Antipsychotics like aripiprazole

Psychotherapy

It’s a very common form of treatment method. The symptoms of STPD condition would make it difficult for a person to establish a relationship with the therapist. Your doctor would set some goals over time after building trust.

The purpose of the therapeutic approach is to change the habits of behavior and thinking, and develop a coping pattern, expectations, and relationship style. Some of the main psychotherapeutic approaches are as follows;

• Family Therapy: the treatment plan can deliver better results if you add the family members in the session for support
• Supportive Expressive Therapy: it would assist you to remove the negative biases and prejudices about relationships. It requires you to open up about concerns, feelings, and thoughts
• Supportive Therapy: it teaches you how to establish relationships, trust people, and deal with negative emotions and thoughts

Conclusion: What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment 

After an in-depth study of what is schizotypal personality disorder; its symptoms, causes, and treatment; we have realized that STPD could badly disturb your life and relationships. If you’re experiencing its symptoms, then you should discuss it with the therapist.