Schizoid Personality Disorder
What is "schizoid personality disorder"?
Schizoid personality disorder is one that's marked by a pervasive social isolation and aloofness, reluctance to interact with others, and an emotional restriction. In other words, theses patients do not display intense emotions and report not to have much of any.
What are the signs of schizoid personality disorder?
These people are gonna be loners. They enjoy solitary activities. They like, they prefer being alone. As I mentioned before, they will not display intense emotions and they will report that they don't have any. Now, when I mention solitary activities, though, it is usually of the computer, electrical, take-the-vacuum-cleaner-apart-and-put-it-back-together type. These are not going to be romanticized solitary activities. You're not going to see a schizoid individual walking on the beach in the moonlight, you know, that's way too sensual and sexy for them. They will not have relationships with other people, including immediate family. They don't crave any kind of intimacy with others. They're not interested in sexual relationships with other people. Part of the disorder is that they are indifferent to the praise or criticism of other people and so in terms of their inability to function in a social setting, you know, you can't even guilt this person or shame them into coming to social events or interacting with other people so it's pretty disabling.
What are the causes of schizoid personality disorder?
Schizoid personality disorder may be more common in the first degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia. Which would suggest, perhaps, some kind of genetic component involved. There isn't any known specific cause though of the disorder.
What are the dangers of schizoid personality disorder?
Dangers may be too strong of a word but I think, obviously, by definition, these people don't have relationships with other people. They would prefer not to. Occupationally, now, it is possible for these people to function quite well at work if they can find a job in which they can be guaranteed social isolation and I think the quintessential stereotypical example would be, quote, the night watchman. That would be a job that someone with schizoid personality disorder could do quite well and would have no problem performing.
Who is at risk for schizoid personality disorder?
Patients who are first degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia appear to be at higher risk for developing the disorder, which would suggest a potential genetic component.
What are the treatments for a schizoid personality disorder?
Schizoid personality disorder patients don't come in for treatment. As far as they're concerned they are content with things the way they are; they don't see any reason to change it, so very little is known actually about treating this disorder. Again, there's almost no indication for medication since they will deny feeling any intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression. Occasionally, when patients have gotten into treatment, they have been noted to enjoy some of the intellectual aspects of introspection. In other words, if they get into individual psychotherapy, they may actually enjoy the intellectual exercise of looking at themselves and thinking about their behaviour or why they do certain things. Some of these patients have been put in group settings, in which, again, they can become attached to the group in their own way; in their own little idiosyncratic way. It won't be obvious to the group that they have developed an attachment, but they will; they may actually enjoy coming to the group. However, that is a situation which is usually untenable because the group will kick them out after a while. If you're part of a group therapy setting it's not ok never to self-disclose, and at some point or other the group will turn on the individual and become quite angry with them that they're not sharing and making themselves vulnerable like everybody else is.
