Psychological Disorders: Schizotypal Personality Disorder
American
Description
A. A pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked
by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships
as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities
of behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety
of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
ideas
of reference (excluding delusions of reference)
odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is inconsistent
with subcultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance,
telepathy, or "sixth sense"; in children and adolescents,
bizarre fantasies or preoccupations)
unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions
odd thinking and speech (e.g., vague, circumstantial, metaphorical,
overelaborate, or stereotyped)
suspiciousness or paranoid ideation
inappropriate or constricted affect
behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar
lack of close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives
excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and
tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments
about self
B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of Schizophrenia,
a Mood Disorder With Psychotic Features, another Psychotic Disorder,
or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Note: If criteria are met prior to the onset of Schizophrenia, add
"Premorbid," e.g., "Schizotypal Personality Disorder
(Premorbid)."
European
Description
A disorder characterized by eccentric behaviour and anomalies of thinking
and affect which resemble those seen in schizophrenia, thought no
definite and characteristic schizophrenic anomalies have occurred
at any stage. There is no dominant or typical disturbance, but any
of the following may be present:
(a)
inappropriate or constricted affect (the individual appears cold and
aloof);
(b) behaviour or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar;
(c) poor rapport with others and a tendency to social withdrawal;
(d) odd beliefs or magical thinking, influencing behaviour and inconsistent
with subcultural norms;
(e) suspiciousness or paranoid ideas;
(f) obsessive ruminations without inner resistance, often with dysmorphophobic,
sexual or aggressive contents;
(g) unusual perceptual experiences including somatosensory (bodily)
or other illusions, depersonalization or derealization;
(h) vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, overelaborate, or stereotyped
thinking, manifested by odd speech or in other ways, without gross
incoherence;
(i) occasional transient quasi-psychotic episodes with intense illusions,
auditory or other hallucinations, and delusion-like ideas, usually
occurring without external provocation.
The
disorder runs a chronic course with fluctuations of intensity. Occasionally
it evolves into overt schizophrenia. There is no definite onset and
its evolution and course are usually those of a personality disorder.
It is more common in individuals related to schizophrenics and is
believed to be part of the genetic "spectrum" of schizophrenia.
Diagnostic
Guidelines
This diagnostic rubric is not recommended for general use because
it is not clearly demarcated either from simple schizophrenia or from
schizoid or paranoid personality disorders. If the term is used, three
or four of the typical features listed above should have been present,
continuously or episodically, for at least 2 years. The individual
must never have met criteria for schizophrenia itself. A history of
schizophrenia in a first-degree relative gives additional weight to
the diagnosis but is not a prerequisite.
Includes:
* borderline schizophrenia
* latent schizophrenia
* latent schizophrenic reaction
* prepsychotic schizophrenia
* prodromal schizophrenia
* pseudoneurotic schizophrenia
* pseudopsychopathic schizophrenia
* schizotypal personality disorder
Excludes:
* Asperger's syndrome
* schizoid personality disorder
