These behaviors can interfere with work, relationships, and quality of life.
People with SPD maydaydreamoften, which helps them escape their surroundings and other people.
These daydreams are not hallucinations ordelusionsthat completely detach from realityas daydreams can be with schizophrenia.
The Good Brigade / Getty Images
Causes
There aren’t yet any clear known causes of SPD.
However, there are life circumstances and biological factors that can contribute to the condition’s development.
Prenatal Risk Factors
There are risk factors for SPD that occur before birth.
These brain regions help you to feel physical sensations and process your emotions.
This can complicate the path toward a diagnosis.
These conditions include:
SPD vs. Schizotypal Personality Disorder
SPD can be confused withschizotypal personality disorder.
The two disorders are similar in symptoms of introversion and fear of closeness.
With schizotypal personality disorder, a person is also afraid of intimacy and avoids closeness.
Schizophrenia includes hallucinations (like hearing voices), intense paranoia, and difficulty processing information and communication.
People with SPD tend to avoid diagnosis and treatment.
Given their greater risk ofsuicide, though, it’s advised they get help.
Don’t hesitate to ask for their help.
Prognosis
SPD is a chronic condition and it’s likely to persist throughout a person’s life.
People with schizoid personality disorder typically continue to find social interactions difficult.
They neither enjoy nor desire close relationships with friends, family, and romantic or sexual partners.
As a result, people living with SPD often choose to be on their own.
Summary
Traits of schizoid personality disorder include choosing to be alone and rarely showing strong emotion.
It can also increase the risk of suicide.
Diagnosing schizoid personality disorder can be a difficult task considering its self-isolating nature.
Other disorders with similar symptoms can also complicate diagnosis.
SPD treatment can include medication, therapy, group activities, and managing social expectations.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about symptoms.
2022 Jan 19;12(2):131. doi:10.3390/jpm12020131
Li T.An overview of schizoid personality disorder.
Atlantis Press; 2021:1657-1663. doi:10.2991/assehr.k.211220.280
MedlinePlus.Personality disorders.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Personality disorders.
University of Michigan Sparrow Health System.Schizoid personality disorder.
Kose SS, Erbas O.Personality disorders diagnosis, causes, and treatments.Journal of Transplantation.
2010;24(1):38-45. doi:10.4321/S0213-61632010000100005
National Institutes of Health.Preterm labor and birth: condition information.
2019;49(8):3376-3386. doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04058-1
MedlinePlus.Autism spectrum disorder.
2021;295:113587. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113587
NHS.Complex PTSD - Post-traumatic stress disorder.
2020;208(2):94-100. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000001105
