Eccentric Personality Disorders: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal

A person with Schizotypal Personality Disorder is uncomfortable in close relationships, has thought or perceptual distortions, and peculiarities of behavior. This disorder is indicated by five (or more) of the following (from DSM IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994):

 

     1.ideas of reference, i.e., believes that casual and 
       external events have a particular and unusual meaning 
       that is specific to him or her 


     2.odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior 
       and is inconsistent with cultural norms (e.g., belief 
       in superstitions or clairvoyance, telepathy, or "sixth 
       sense"


     3.unusual perceptual experiences (e.g., hears a voice 
       murmuring his or her name; reports bodily illusions)


     4.odd thinking and speech (e.g., unusual phrasing, speech 
       which is vague, overly elaborate, and wanders from the 
       main point)


     5.excessively suspicious thinking


     6.inappropriate or constricted emotions (reduced range and 
       intensity of emotion)


     7.behavior or appearance that is odd or peculiar (e.g., 
       unusual mannerisms, avoids eye contact, wears stained, 
       ill-fitting clothes)


     8.lack of close friends or confidants other than immediate family


     9.excessive social anxiety that remains despite familiarity with 
       people and social situation.  The anxiety relates more to 
       suspiciousness about others' motivations than to negative 
       judgments about self.

Schizoid Personality

Personality Disorders