Schizotypal personality disorder is one of the eccentric personality disorders. The behavior and attitudes of individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may be perceived as strange by other people. Although this personality disorder is included in the schizophrenia spectrum, psychoses are generally not observed in schizotypal disorder.
People with schizotypal personality disorder are generally lonely and prefer to stay away from other people because they are uncomfortable being in relationships. Generally, individuals who cannot understand how relationships are formed or the effects of their behavior on other people may misinterpret other people's intentions and develop distrust towards people.
These people also have difficulties with memory, learning and interest. They generally do not show serious psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, as in schizophrenia. However, sometimes individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may also develop schizophrenia.
Schizopital personality disorder is located between the milder schizoid personality disorder and the more serious schizophrenia. These disorders are thought to be biologically related. Although many experts think that individuals with these disorders have similar genetic vulnerabilities, it is not known why individuals have more severe or milder versions of the disease.
The problems experienced by individuals with schizotypal personality disorder cause them to experience anxiety and avoid social interactions. it could be. Because individuals with this disorder have certain beliefs and have difficulty understanding social signals.
Schizotypal personality disorder is generally detected in early adulthood and continues throughout life. Improvement in the symptoms caused by schizotypal disorder can be achieved through methods such as medication and therapy.
Symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Five or more symptoms are usually observed in schizotypal personality disorder. :
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Being alone and having no close friends other than immediate family members
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Having fixed emotions or limited or inappropriate emotional responses show
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Continuously and excessively � experiencing social anxiety
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Interpreting events incorrectly by exhibiting behaviors such as searching for personal meaning in a normally harmless event
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Strange, Having eccentric and unusual thoughts, beliefs and attitudes
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Having paranoid thoughts and constant doubt about the loyalty of other people
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Belief in special powers such as superstition and telepathy
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Unusual perceptions such as sensing an absent person or seeing illusions
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Wearing messy or oddly fitting clothes
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Having a unique way of speaking, such as speaking in incomprehensible and unusual patterns
Symptoms such as increased interest in solitary activities or social anxiety may appear during adolescence. A child in adolescence may not perform adequately at school or may be socially excluded by his/her peers and as a result may be made fun of or bullied.
Causes of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Personality; It is formed by the combination of thoughts, emotions and behaviors and makes you unique as an individual. Your personality is your perspective and determines how you understand and relate to the outside world. A person's personality is determined by interaction, hereditary predisposition and environmental factors starting from childhood.
During normal development, the child learns how to communicate appropriately with other people, how to interpret social signals, and how to behave adaptively and flexibly in social interaction situations. Although it cannot be determined what goes wrong in individuals with schizotypal personality disorder since childhood, it is thought that the personality disorder is caused by brain functions, genetics, environmental factors and learned behaviors.
What is the difference between schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia?
It is possible to confuse schizotypal personality disorder with schizophrenia. However, schizophrenia is a serious mental illness in which psychosis occurs that causes the person to become detached from reality. schizotypal quiche Although individuals with marrow disorder may experience psychotic episodes such as delusions and hallucinations, these episodes are not as frequent, long-lasting and intense as in schizophrenia.
Another point that distinguishes schizotypal personality disorder from schizophrenia is that individuals with this personality disorder are distorted with reality. They are able to distinguish between thoughts. Individuals experiencing schizophrenia are generally under the influence of delusions.
In addition to the differences, schizotypal personality disorder can benefit from treatments applied to schizophrenia. Schizotypal personality disorder is sometimes considered in the schizophrenia spectrum, but the severity of this disorder is thought to be less.
When should we get help?
Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder They usually seek help due to pressure from family members or friends, or they do so because of another problem they experience, such as depression. If you suspect that a member of your family or a friend has schizotypal personality disorder, you can gently advise that individual to seek medical help.
Risk factors
Family Individuals with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders may have a higher risk of experiencing schizotypal personality disorder.
Complications of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder may have the following complications: It is possible to see:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Other personality disorders
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Schizophrenia
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Transient psychotic episodes (especially in response to stress)
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Alcohol or drug problems
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Suicide attempts
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Problems at work, school, and relationships
Diagnosis of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
The diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder is made based on the symptoms and history of the person and is determined by a mental health specialist. There are no laboratory tests to determine whether a person has this disorder.
Schizotypal personality disorder To distinguish anxiety disorder from other disorders, the specialist will examine whether there are symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders or psychotic thoughts.
Treatment of Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Schizotypal personality. Treatment of the disorder is generally possible with the combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Drugs used in treatment are prescribed if the symptoms seen in the person are obvious. Irrational thoughts are generally possible with the use of low doses of antipsychotic drugs. If the person has symptoms of depression or anxiety, the doctor may also recommend the use of antidepressants.
Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder find psychotherapy difficult because these individuals feel uncomfortable when they establish a relationship with someone as part of their personality disorder. Therapy is only possible when a therapist establishes a trusting relationship with this individual by respecting his or her need to stay away.
Since individuals with schizotypal personality disorder have difficulty perceiving social signals, it is important to teach these individuals some social skills. For example, it is important for these individuals to learn behaviors that are perceived as rude by other people. Similarly, it is important for the therapist to learn why the thoughts and perceptions of an individual with schizotypal personality disorder are distorted and how to respond to them.
Difficulties experienced in situations requiring social interaction can cause the individual with schizotypal disorder to become personally frustrated and It can lead to a weak self-image throughout your life. Such problems can be the focus of psychotherapy.
If the symptoms of an individual with schizotypal personality disorder are mild or moderately severe, the person can adapt with relatively little support. However, if the symptoms are very severe, it may be difficult for the person to work or live independently. For example, routine interactions at work may be perceived as strange by the individual with personality disorder, and this may trigger anxiety.
Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder are supported by family members. It is also important for them to see. Additionally, these individuals may be more skilled in jobs that require little social interaction.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder in the Long Term
Although all personality disorders are generally seen as long-term (chronic) It lasts a lifetime. Unlike diseases such as depression, the symptoms seen in personality disorders are present continuously rather than occurring in episodes.
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