Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoids often choose to be by themselves, thus

– Go through life with markedly reduced interpersonal stress

– Immune to the demands that others might put on them

Many of the criteria are defined by a

lack of something

Result of diagnostic criteria for Schizoid Personality Disorder

– Perspectives on the construct are not well integrated

– Many therapists claim to never have seen a true Schizoid personality

This personality style will be

more difficult to imagine for many

We all know someone who is an

extreme introvert

•Not an avoidant personality, though…

We all want to be

left alone from time to time...

• To quiet our own thoughts or think things through

• To let down the façade of friendliness that is required at a work party or visits from relatives

– Sooner or later enough is enough

Schizoids feel this way

the majority of the time

Schizoids often turn to

isolative hobbies

• Stamp or rock collecting

• Mechanical gadgetry

• Mathematics or computer science

Schizoid Personality Disorder and Delusional Disorder, Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders with Psychotic Features

– In order to give the diagnosis of Schizoid:

• The personality disorder must have been present before the onset of psychotic symptoms

• The personality disorder must persist with the psychotic symptoms are in remission

Schizoid Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder Similarities

Can appear similar upon initial presentation

• Both display

– Lack of interpersonal relationships

– Engagement in many solitary activities

Schizoid Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder Differences

Difference lies in the desire for relationships

• Avoidant Personality Disorder

– Avoids relationships due to a fear of rejection

• Schizoid Personality Disorder

– May also fear such criticism, but will not desire relationships

» As a result, self-enforced solitude appears less problematic

Schizoid Personality Disorder and Those wit Milder Forms of Autistic Disorder and Asperger’s Disorder

• Both display severely impaired social interaction and stereotyped behaviors and interests

How does the Schizoid personality develop from an interpersonal perspective?

Not sure...

Many clinicians believe it to be

a deficit from the very beginning of life

Most infants develop one of several types of attachment to caretakers

Future schizoid personalities remain weakly attached, if at all

Behaviors normally reinforcing caregiving such as coos, smiles, and giggles are

infrequent or absent

Although detached from life

they nevertheless exist in a social world

Schizoid patients are likely to

“ ignore others’ presence and refuse to speak or respond. He remains totally unresponsive, is constantly lost in his own thoughts, and appears compulsively uncommunicative. He doggedly ignores all social overtures, and resists intrusions into his privacy. Whenever possible, he avoids others and becomes totally reclusive. When around others, he is totally disinterested and relentlessly stays in his own private world. He strikes others as being disengaged, hermetic, and mute.

Schizoids are impressive not for what they do

but for what they fail to do

Schizoid is probably best described as the reverse of the

histrionic personality

Histrionic personality

• Turned radically outward toward the social world

• Demonstrative, dramatic, spontaneous, and theatrical

• Hyper-sexualized

• Cognitively scattered and unable to focus

Schizoid personality

• Radically detached

• Unanimated, robotic and lacking in energy and vitality

• Little or no interest in sex

• Focus intensely and creatively

Early Experience

– “Square peg in a round hole”

– Teased and bullied at school

– “Inept at family activities

Core Beliefs

– “I am different, a loner, an oddity, a misfit, nothing/worthless, boring and dull, half a person, have an ugly personality, not normal”

– “People are cruel, hostile, out to get me, unfulfilling, don’t like me, pick on weakness”

– “The World is hostile”

Conditional Assumptions

– “If I try and befriend others, they will notice I am different and ridicule me”

– “If I speak to others, they will notice how dull I am and will reject and taunt me”

– “If people don’t fit in, they will not be welcome and cannot have friends”

– “If I try and talk to others, there will be nothing to say and no point in this communication.” “People should only talk if they have something to say.”

– “If people see I am anxious, they will consider me weak and pick on me”

– “If I aggravate people, then they will hurt me

Negative Automatic Thoughts

– “I don’t fit in – there is nothing to say”

• “Others will taunt me for this”

Behaviors

– Avoid all contact/talk with others

– Look at the ground in social situations