Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) is one of a group of illnesses called eccentric personality disorders or “Cluster ‘A’ “. People with these illnesses often seem odd or peculiar. An individual having a schizoid personality disorder is apt to be detached, distant, and indifferent to social interactions.

Schizoid personality disorder and schizophrenia are not the same, so don’t take them equally. Many people with this disorder are capable of functioning fairly well, although they try to find jobs that allow them to stay alone, such as lab workers, library, or night security officers.

Symptoms

Individuals suffering from schizoid personality disorder often tend to be reclusive, organizing their routines away from people close to them and avoiding social interactions. Many individuals continue to live with their parents as adults or never marry. Other common characteristics of people with this illness include the following:

• People don’t want to meet with their relatives even close family members.
• They find jobs in which they work alone.
• Their pleasure is only present in a few activities.
• Even their first-degree relatives
• They have difficulty talking to others.
• They are uninterested in criticism or praise.
• Such individuals want to be reserved and show little emotion.

How Common Is Schizoid Personality Disorder?

It is hard to precisely assess the occurrence of this disorder because individuals with this disorder hardly seek treatment. This disorder disturbs men more often than women, and it affects people who have relatives with schizophrenia.

This disorder usually begins in early adulthood or late adolescence.

Causes

There is not much information about the causes of schizoid personality disorder, but both environment and genetics are supposed to play a role. Some mental health experts speculate that a miserable childhood where emotion and warmth were lacking contributes to the onset of the disorder. The higher risk of this disorder in families suffering from schizophrenia indicates that genetic exposure to this disorder is inherited.

Diagnosis

If there are symptoms of personality disorder present in an individual the doctor will start evaluation through complete medical history and will perform some physical examination. There are no specific medical or lab tests to identify a personality disorder.

If the doctor finds no physical reason for the symptoms, psychologists and psychiatrists use specially deliberated assessment and interview tools to assess a person for a personality disorder.

Treatment

Individuals suffering from schizoid personality disorder usually don’t seek treatment because they don’t feel they need that. Its treatment begins with a physiotherapist. The treatment perspective is to focus on increasing overall coping skills, as well as on improving social relations, self-esteem, and communication.

Doctors don’t prescribe medication specifically for this disorder. But in some cases, medications are prescribed if the person is also suffering from some mental illnesses, such as depression.

Can we prevent Schizoid Personality Disorder?

No, there is no specific way to prevent it, although you can seek help from trusted organizations if you find its symptoms in you.

 

schizoid personality disorder