Encyclopedia Of Mental Disorders: Schizoid PD

Definition

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by a persistent withdrawal from social relationships and lack of emotional responsiveness in most situations. It is sometimes referred to as a "pleasure deficiency" because of the seeming inability of the person affected to experience joyful or pleasurable responses to life situations.

Description

A person with schizoid personality disorder has little or no interest in developing close interpersonal relation ships. They appear aloof, introverted and prefer being alone. Those who know them often label them as shy or a "loner." They turn inward in an effort to shut out social relationships. It is common for a person with schizoid personality disorder to avoid groups of people or appear disinterested in social situations even when they involve family. They are often perceived by others as socially inept.
A closely related trait is the absence of emotional expression. This apparent void of emotion is routinely interpreted by others as disinterested, lacking concern and insensitive to the needs of others. The person with schizoid personality disorder has particular difficulty expressing anger or hostility. In the absence of any recognizable emotion, the person portrays a dull demeanor and is easily overlooked by others. The typical person with schizoid personality disorder prefers to be viewed as "invisible" since it aids their quest to avoid social contact with others.
The person with schizoid personality disorder may be able to hold a job and meet the expectations of an employer if the responsibilities do not require more than minimal interpersonal involvement. People with this disorder may be married, but do not develop close intimate relationships with their spouse and typically show no interest in sexual relations. Their speech is typically slow and monotonous with a lethargic demeanor. Because their tendency is to turn inward, they can easily become preoccupied with their own thoughts to the exclusion of what is happening in their environment. Attempts to communicate may drift into tangents or confusing associations. They are also prone to being absent minded.

Causes and symptoms

Causes

The schizoid personality disorder has its roots in the family of the affected person. These families are typically emotionally reserved, have a high degree of formality, and have a communication style that is aloof and impersonal. Parents usually express inadequate amounts of affection to the child and provide insufficient amounts of emotional stimulus. This lack of stimulus during the first year of life is thought to be largely responsible for the person's disinterest in forming close, meaningful relationships later in life.
People with schizoid personality disorder have learned to imitate the style of interpersonal relationships modeled in their families. In this environment, affected people fail to learn basic communication skills that would enable them to develop relationships and interact effectively with others. Their communication is often vague and fragmented, which others find confusing. Many individuals with schizoid personality disorder feel misunderstood by others.

Symptoms

DSM-IV-TR specifies seven diagnostic criteria for schizoid personality disorder:

• Avoids close relationships: People with this disorder show no interest or enjoyment in developing interpersonal relationships; this may also include family members. They perceive themselves as social misfits and believe they can function best when not dependent on anyone except themselves. They rarely date, often do not marry, and have few, if any, friends.
• Prefers solitude: They prefer and choose activities that they can do by themselves without dependence upon or involvement by others. Examples of activities they might choose include mechanical or abstract tasks such as computer or mathematical games.
• Avoids sex: There is typically little or no interest in having a sexual experience with another person. This would include a spouse if the affected person is married.
• Lacks pleasure: There is an absence of pleasure in most activities. A person with schizoid personality disorder seems unable to experience the full range of emotion accessible to most people.
• Lacks close friends: People affected with this disorder typically do not have the social skills necessary to develop meaningful interpersonal relationships. This results in few ongoing social relationships outside of immediate family members.
• Indifferent to praise or criticism: Neither positive nor negative comments made by others elicit an emotionally expressive reaction. They don't appear concerned about what others might think of them. Despite their tendency to turn inward to escape social contact, they practice little introspection.
• Emotional detachment: Their emotional style is aloof and perceived by others as distant or "cold." They seem unable or uninterested in expressing empathy and concern for others. Emotions are significantly restricted and most social contacts would describe their personality as very bland, dull or humorless. The person with schizoid personality disorder rarely picks up on or reciprocates normal communicational cues such as facial expressions, head nods, or smiles.

Demographics

Of all personality disorders , schizoid personality disorder is the least commonly diagnosed personality disorder in the general population. The prevalence is approximately one percent. It is diagnosed slightly more often in males.

Diagnosis

The symptoms of schizoid personality disorder may begin in childhood or adolescence showing as poor peer relationships, a tendency toward self-isolation, and underachievement in school. Children with these tendencies appear socially out-of-step with peers and often become the object of malicious teasing by their peers, which increases the feelings of isolation and social ineptness they feel.
For a diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder to be accurately made, there must be an ongoing avoidance of social relationships and a restricted range of emotion in interpersonal relationships that begin by early adulthood. There must also be the presence of at least four of the above-mentioned symptoms.
A common difficulty in diagnosing schizoid personality disorder is distinguishing it from Autistic Disorder and Asperger's Disorder , which are characterized by more severe deficits in social skills. Other individuals who would display social habits that might be viewed as "isolating" should not be given the diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder unless the personality traits are inflexible and cause significant obstacles to adequate functioning.
The diagnosis is based on a clinical interview to assess symptomatic behavior. Other assessment tools helpful in diagnosing schizoid personality disorder include:

• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2)
• Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II)
• Rorschach Psychodiagnostic Test
• Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Treatments

A major goal of treating a patient diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder is to combat the tendencies toward social withdrawal. Strategies should focus on enhancing self-awareness and sensitivity to their relational contacts and environment.

Psychodynamically oriented therapies

A psychodynamic approach would typically not be the first choice of treatment due to the patient's poor ability to explore his or her thoughts, emotions, and behavior. When this treatment is used, it usually centers around building a therapeutic relationship with the patient that can act as a model for use in other relationships.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Attempting to cognitively restructure the patient's thoughts can enhance self-insight. Constructive ways of accomplishing this would include concrete assignments such as keeping daily records of problematic behaviors or thoughts. Another helpful method can be teaching social skills through role-playing. This might enable individuals to become more conscious of communication cues given by others and sensitize them to others' needs.

Group therapy

Group therapy may provide the patient with a socializing experience that exposes them to feedback from others in a safe, controlled environment. It can also provide a means of learning and practicing social skills in which they are deficient. Since the patient usually avoids social contact, timing of group therapy is of particular importance. It is best to develop first a therapeutic relationship between therapist and patient before starting a group therapy treatment.

Family and marital therapy

It is unlikely that a person with schizoid personality disorder will seek family therapy or marital therapy. If pursued, it is usually on the initiative of the spouse or other family member. Many people with this disorder do not marry and end up living with and are dependent upon first-degree family members. In this case, therapy may be recommended for family members to educate them on aspects of change or ways to facilitate communication. Marital therapy (also called couples therapy ) may focus on helping the couple to become more involved in each other's lives or improve communication patterns.

Medications

Some patients with this disorder show signs of anxiety and depression which may prompt the use of medication to counteract these symptoms. In general, there is to date no definitive medication that is used to treat schizoid symptoms.

Prognosis

Since a person with schizoid personality disorder seeks to be isolated from others, which includes those who might provide treatment, there is only a slight chance that most patients will seek help on their own initiative. Those who do may stop treatment prematurely because of their difficulty maintaining a relationship with the professional or their lack of motivation for change.
If the degree of social impairment is mild, treatment might succeed if its focus is on maintenance of relationships related to the patient's employment. The patient's need to support him- or herself financially can act as a higher incentive for pursuit of treatment outcomes.
Once treatment ends, it is highly likely the patient will relapse into a lifestyle of social isolation similar to that before treatment.

Prevention

Since schizoid personality disorder originates in the patient's family of origin, the only known preventative measure is a nurturing, emotionally stimulating and expressive caretaking environment.

http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Schizoid-personality-disorder.html

Schizoid Personality Type: The Basics

There have been several attempts at defining schizoid personality disorder on other webpages. I won’t be redundant here. Just see any other website for more information about the diagnostic criteria, or go to http://mentalhealth.com to take a test for yourself and see if you have this personality type or "disorder" as the psychologists seem to see it.
What is the inner life of a schizoid person like?
Schizoids, deep down, honestly do not care what other people think of them. The opinions of others make almost no difference to them. They are oblivious to the effects they have on other people due to their psychological condition—they have a reduced ability to feel pleasure. In general, they are apathetic about human relationships and derive no pleasure from being around others. They are just not sociable people.
Some people tend to confuse avoidant personality disorder with schizoid personality disorder. Avoidant persons really want to be around people but cannot because of psychological inhibitions. Schizoids really do not want to be around people because people distract them from their own thoughts. Schizoids live in their own minds and their own thoughts. Most of them have rich, deep inner lives that are complex. Many, if not all, are highly intelligent.
What is the role of intelligence in contributing to schizoid personality type?
Many schizoids are highly intelligent. Some intelligent people have a hard time dealing with normal people because normal people are stupid compared to them. Therefore, some intelligent schizoids would prefer to live within their own minds than listen to the mindless drivel of the masses.
Schizoids hate to work for institutions and have no interest in career advancement.
Schizoids will work effectively enough to do their jobs well—well enough not to be fired. They have no interest in career advancement because they realize such endeavors as pointless anyway. Work does not stimulate them because they would prefer to be left alone to think and do things on their own, without the extra stimuli of other people working around them or giving them responsibilities that might interrupt their privacy. They highly value their privacy and social isolation.
Places to find schizoids
Many work jobs that allow them to be alone for long periods of time. Night security guard, graveyard shift store clerk, farmer, telecommuter, researcher, or anything that involves working with ideas or things over people in a non-social situation. Some schizoids prefer to only work part time and live very simply. Besides, material things bring them little happiness anyway, and they usually don’t have families to support.
Schizoids are not crazy
Being alone is not something that is freakish or wrong. It is a personality trait that is certainly statistically abnormal but not dangerous. Although serial killers are sometimes portrayed and loners or socially isolated, they are usually not schizoids. Why not? Because serial killers usually have an interest in interacting with people that has gone wrong along the way. They feel socially isolated, hurt, angry, and take that anger out on society. But schizoids have little anger toward society or hurt relationships. They don’t care about relationships and would prefer just to be left alone. They don’t give violence a thought because they are not interested in relationships with people.

http://www.angelfire.com/nt/ebay3/FAQ_of_Schizoid_Personality_Type.htm

A Window On a Schizoid Life

Evidently the most related thing about the author is that he is schizoid. But that does not define me as a whole. Believe it or not being schizoid is just a part of who I am. I am not arguing that it is a very important part and that a lot is rooted by that, but all schizoids are not the same and it will be very restrictive to think that because some people share a common cell in a table printed in some shrink books, that they will all have the same personality… Particularly in the case of schizoids, for whom uniqueness is of the essence.

So that you better understand the blog and my thoughts (http://schizoid-personality.110mb.com)  it is of importance that you understand what the Schizoid Personality “Disorder” (SPD) is. Only then will you comprehend my specificities. Like the fact that I am married, very rare for schizoids, especially male ones. And not just married, but being with my special someone for now over 14 years (hands up for her being able to endure my lack of emotions) take that you “cannot sustain a close relationship for long period of time” shrink definition, I guess you did not think that it takes two people to have a relationship, and I found the one that can sustain it.

Of course being schizoid for as long as I have been (well really since always probably, thought you cannot be diagnosed a schizoid until after the end of childhood, when your psyche is suppose to be conform to the society standards) comes with other personality traits. Without being full blown “disorders”, my being schizoid comes with a side of Shizotypal, Anti-social, and Obsessive-Compulsive behaviours.

Yet again I am more than just the sum of those personalities. For example I am French AND Canadian (do not understand “French Canadian”). Having dual citizenship is merely relevant, but actually having lived into two different societies (and different they are, even if both occidental) is the kind of experience shaping a mind differently.

Take also into account that I have a daughter born (September, 2000) and raised in Canada (Ontario).

The ethnicity, age and sex are also important factors; I am Caucasian and born in December, 1970 near Paris (France). As for the sex, well you should already have understood by now that I am a male.

Finally: I did some things that might not seem very schizoid of me at first glance (being a journalist or a trainer or working in a shared office). Especially if you are looking for some kind of an archetype of schizoid. Know that I do not have Avoidant Personality (often associated with Schizoid Personality) which makes a big difference, and as always, I truly believe that life experience is full of surprises, it brought me in those places, which I hated, but I survived it. Plus, over the years I mastered a few neat tricks, I have my ways around people.

I don’t think the work you do define who you are, quite the opposite actually. Currently, I am a System Engineer (a geek that so happened to be able to do geeky things for a living).

Name is irrelevant (see if I care about prenominology) but I guess you might think it’s nice to know each other, of course I don’t, but hey, I can abbey by your rules… Name’s “Jack” or “Jacques” if you prefer the French touch.

Well with all that I can say, yeah sure, "I Am Schizoid But Coping"

Jack,

http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Am-Schizoid-But-Coping/141351

Asperger's in the Workplace

Asperger's Syndrome may cause difficulties in finding a job or moving up in a company. With acceptance and perseverance, individuals with AS can have successful careers.

People with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism, may have a more difficult time in the workplace than the average worker. While they may be some of the most highly intelligent and hard working individuals, it is sometimes hard for people with AS to establish themselves in today's working world.

Developing Interview Skills with Asperger's

Asperger's Syndrome affects the social development of a person. It is often hard for a person with Asperger's Syndrome to look people in the eye or make appropriate conversation. It can be very difficult for them to distinguish between sarcasm or regular speaking, and it is even more challenging to read any nonverbal cues given off by others. All these characteristics can make an individual feel uncomfortable in social situations, as well as make it extremely difficult when trying to land a job.
Many people with Asperger's are extremely intelligent, if not experts in multiple subjects. They are often at the top of their class or have earned more than one degree in college. They are very exact to detail and have excellent memories. All these things look great on a resume, but they do not always come across so well in an interview.

People with AS often have a slight processing delay which affects the speed in which they respond or answer any questions. They might not say the right things or they may say too much not realizing that the other person was not looking for such an in depth answer or that they have lost interest.
Before an interview, those with Asperger's can review all possible questions and prepare themselves with an answer ahead of time. It can be helpful to have practice interviews with a friend or get some helpful feedback from another person. Eye contact can be a big problem, but it can be managed through an interview.

Communicating Effectively at Work

Once landing a job, it is important to be able to adequately communicate with coworkers at work. Although it may be difficult for Aspies to interpret a coworker's body language or non verbal cues, they can be sure to ask questions for clarification when they don't understand. Many employees with Asperger's find that they can much more easily communicate through emails or memos since they do not have to figure out any hidden messages through a worker's tone of voice or facial expressions.

The Decision to Tell Coworkers About Asperger's

It is a personal decision whether or not to tell an employer or fellow employees at work about Asperger's Syndrome. Some people come right out during a job interview that they have Asperger's and explain how they might see the world a little differently, but it will not affect their job skills. Some choose to keep it a secret fearing they might not be accepted equally. Asperger's Syndrome is a real medical condition which cannot be discriminated against according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Regardless of this, some still choose to keep open knowledge of their Asperger's hidden. It is only if problems arise at work that they may choose who and when to tell.

Contributing to the Workplace

People with Asperger's Syndrome can contribute great things to their jobs and careers. They may not be able to express themselves verbally as well as others, but much credit can be given to their work. Some of the most brilliant minds have been people with Asperger's Syndrome. Their perfectionism can be a great strength to getting the job done right and allowing few mistakes.

Establishing a Reputation for Leadership

While individuals with Asperger's Syndrome might be the best and brightest of their trade, it is often difficult for them to establish a reputation for being leaders. In much of today's world, where so much is given to how a person relates to one another, a person with Asperger's might not come across as a leader. The lack of eye contact and lack of self expression might not allow them seem like much of a leader. They may feel uncomfortable when given a team or group to oversee, not because of the inability to manage the job, but the awkwardness which comes from dealing with coworkers socially. With practice, workers with AS can find ways to better express themselves and come across with more leadership skills to others.

Moving Up Within a Company

It is not appropriate to suggest people can move up in a company based on the way they suck up to the boss or management, but it is true that those who are noticed more are thought about more for promotions. In a fair world it would always be the best worker for the job, but today it doesn't always happen that way. While most people with Asperger's don't understand the need for small talk, it can be helpful to practice "water cooler conversations" with their coworkers so that they might be seen and heard beyond their work.

"Being Your Own Boss"

Some people with Asperger's discover the best way to work is to work for themselves. If they are their own boss, then they don't have to worry about the the misinterpretation of others or how people may react. They may easily start their own business and be quite successful.

Moving On When Jobs Don't Work Out

Regardless of what job or career path those with Asperger's choose, it is important that they can move on if things don't work out. There is a strong need for routine in an Aspie's life. Sometimes the ending of a job can mean devastation to an Aspie's structured life. What will he or she do now? How can they handle such change? Where will they go?
There are many jobs and career paths that may be a better fit to someone with Asperger's. Aspie's tend to choose jobs more in the technical field of work. These are the scientists, the computer programmers, lab technicians, website administrators, map makers, geologists, engineers, or those that are self employed in a business of their own.
People with Asperger's Syndrome have every right to equal treatment in the workplace. They cannot be discriminated against because of their differences. Although difficult, there are ways to work around any problems which may arise from having Asperger's. With continued hard work and possible help with social skills practicing, a person with AS can lead a highly successful life.

http://www.suite101.com/content/aspergers-in-the-workplace-a177822