How to Identify Schizotypal Personality Disorder

People with schizotypal personality disorder exhibit various oddities of thought content, thought process, perceptual disturbances and behavior. Learn how to spot the characteristics of schizotypal personality disorder. Identify the differences between this and other personality disorders so you know when a person with a disorder needs to seek professional medical help.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Know that people with a schizotypal personality disorder are often socially isolated and have difficulty expressing their feelings. This causes them to have difficulty establishing rapport. They do not communicate effectively in face-to-face interactions.
2. Realize that people with schizotypal personality disorder often have magical thinking or ideas of reference. They assign a personal meaning or significance to an event or conversation like believing the evening news anchor is speaking to them. They also have paranoid thinking patterns.
3. Recognize that people with schizotypal personality disorder exhibit odd or eccentric behaviors or dress outside of what is considered acceptable cultural norms. Individuals with this disorder often believe they can influence other peoples thoughts, feelings and behaviors. People with this disorder often believe they possess special powers and have a unique "sixth sense" or extra-sensory perception.
4. Understand that people with this disorder may experience illusions and a loss of a sense of reality. This is not severe enough to meet the criteria for the diagnosis of schizophrenia.
5. Treat the disorder. Treatment options often include both psychopharmacological approaches and psychotherapeutic interventions.