What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder? 10 symptoms of STPD

A person suffering from Schizotypal Personality disorder or STPD may experience extreme discomfort with close relationships or any kind of social interactions. The person may be described as unsocial or eccentric due to their lack of interest in socializing with people. If a person is suffering with Schizotypal Personality Disorder they may have derealization of their surroundings, distorted views of reality and may engage in behaviors which can be considered odd or weird from a societal point of view.

Traits of STPD

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is one of a group of condition called “Cluster A” Personality Disorder which involves unusual and eccentric thinking and behaviors. Long term dysfunctional behaviors patterns which lead to social issues are called personality disorders. Patients of STPD may also misinterpret others’ motivations and behaviors and develop significant distrust of others. These problems may lead to severe anxiety and a tendency to avoid social situations.

Some people with schizotypal personality disorder later develop schizophrenia. People with Schizotypal Personality Disorder may have odd speech, unusual behavior or superficial beliefs such as strong belief in superstitions.

Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) is one of the most common personality disorders that start in adolescence as the personality continues to grow and change. Those assigned male at birth are slightly more affected by STPD than those designated female at birth. STPD is comparatively rarer than you think. It only affects 3-5% of United States’ population.

Difference between STPD and Schizoid

The mental health illness known as schizoid personality disorder (ScPD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of disengagement from and overall indifference in social interactions. This differs from schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) in that people with STPD are extremely uncomfortable with personal interactions rather than being uninterested.

People with STPD also have peculiar thoughts and behaviors, like magical thinking, whereas people with ScPD generally don’t.

Difference between Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia

People with STPD are distinct to people suffering from Schizophrenia because they generally don’t experience the psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, which are experienced in Schizophrenia.

People suffering from Schizotypal Personality Disorder may have peculiar beliefs or may do engage in strange behaviors. But, their symptoms are very different from a person who is suffering from Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia negatively impacts someone’s day-to-day function much more than schizotypal personality disorder. On the contrary, STPD may make a person seem as though they are weird, Schizophrenia completely indicates psychotic tendencies and is usually more challenging to deal with than Schizotypal Personality Disorder.

Symptoms

The following can be the symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder:

1. Suffering from severe and persistent social anxiety.
2. Being constantly paranoid of others and doubting their loyalty.
3. Strong belief in superficial powers or even superstitions. These imaginary powers may include telekinesis and mental telepathy.
4. Being a lonely person or having no close relationships with the surrounding people. Basically having no friends or acquaintances.
5. Unusual perceptions, such as sensing an absent person’s presence or having illusions.
6. Speaking in a strange way and having a strange behavior, such as vague or unusual patterns of speaking, or rambling oddly during conversations
7. Dressing in a non sociably acceptable way (having a strange fashion sense).
8. Incorrect interpretation of events, such as a feeling that something that is actually harmless or inoffensive has a direct personal meaning.
9. Uninteresting feelings or limitations or unsuitable feelings
10. Being comfortable in social isolation or inducing the social isolation on oneself by one’s own will.

Causes

The etiology of schizotypal personality disorder is not singular. There are several risk factors that could increase your likelihood of developing this illness, such as: a history of mental health issues or schizophrenia disorders in the family. brain damage, including malfunctions of the brain.

In normal development, children learn over time to appropriately interact with others, to interpret social cues, and to respond to social situations appropriately and with flexibility. What exactly goes wrong for a person with schizotypal personality disorder isn’t known for certain, but it’s likely that changes in the way the brain functions, genetics, environmental influences and learned behaviors may play a role.