|
Many people know about psychotic disorders like schizophrenia – in fact, schizophrenia is probably the most well-known one. However, there are many other disorders, some a lot milder than schizophrenia. There are even several milder disorders that are directly related to schizophrenia, as is the case with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD).
SPD is not a psychotic disorder, but is characterized by some “psychotic” episodes. These, however, are much less common than in schizophrenia. The disorder is characterized mainly by disturbed thinking and odd beliefs, which to others are obviously strange and false.
There are many symptoms an individual will experience in connection with SPD. They include incorrectly interpreting casual incidences as having unusual meaning directed specifically towards the individual; having odd fantasies or beliefs – excessive superstition, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy, bizarre fantasies or preoccupations; suspicious or paranoid beliefs; behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar; lacking close friends or confidants; excessive social anxiety; unusual perceptual experiences; and inappropriate or constricted effect.
A person with SPD may believe that strangers are speaking about him/her when s/he’s walking down the street. S/he may also believe that a television broadcast is meant especially for him/her. S/he may also believe that people are going to harm him/her even when there is nothing to support such a belief.
Some patients also experience unusual perceptual experiences, such as hearing and seeing things that aren’t really there. They may think a small noise is really a voice, or see people moving out of the corners of their eyes when they are alone in the room/house. Many SPD patients take these as normal, everyday occurrences.
They may go out in public dressed up in strange ways (layers of clothing, mismatched or unkempt outfit), and may talk to themselves. People surrounding them may label them as “crazy.”
Though this sounds like schizophrenia, schizophrenics actually have delusions that allow them to believe they are specially important people and that’s why they’re experiencing some similar symptoms – it’s “taken to the next level.” However, it’s a proven fact that relatives of schizophrenics are more likely to suffer from either schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder, as well as the other varieties of schizophrenia.
Diagnosis is somewhat difficult, as with any mental disorder. A doctor will conduct an interview with a patient and review as much past history as possible. Several of the symptoms need to be present over a period of several months or years – usually one year is the minimum doctors will consider adequate for diagnosis; some may need longer. Many of these patients originally seek treatment for depression or anxiety. A doctor will listen to the answers the patient gives him, and will also observe the patient to see how he reacts to the situation. It is a very subjective science, and therefore a rather difficult one.
However, after the disorder is diagnosed, there are a few different methods to treat it. One method is with anti-psychotic drugs. These are used primarily in patients who are experience real “psychotic manifestations” that cannot be controlled otherwise. Once these patients are more under control through the use of these drugs, therapy can begin.
There are two basic types of therapy: individual and group. The patient will most likely start out in individual therapy. It is crucial that the psychiatrist/psychologist be very tactful when approaching the patient about their problems. The patient thinks that his world is the normal one (in general) and may take offense to someone ‘undermining’ his beliefs. The psychiatrist’s job is to explore the patient’s belief and gently show the difference between fantasy and reality, and why his beliefs are false. This process may take quite some time, depending on the patient and the severity of the disorder.
If the psychiatrist determines that the patient is experiencing very severe problems, especially with delusions, s/he may re-diagnosis the patient with schizophrenia. Sometimes SPD is a precursor to schizophrenia.
After the SPD improves, the patient will go to group therapy. Group therapy is essential to SPD patients. They need to be able to share their thoughts and ideas and come to terms with how ‘normal’ people see the world and how others with the same disorder they have see the world.
Through a combination of individual and group therapies, and sometimes drugs, a schizotypal patient may improve quite a bit. S/he will never be completely normal, because that is the nature of psychotic and personality disorders – it is a ‘wiring problem’ in the brain.
More people need to be aware that there are milder forms of psychotic disorders out there, and that people they love may suffer from them. Anyone who feels they or someone they know is suffering from this disorder may do a search on the web to find sites on schizotypal personality disorder. There are online diagnosis quizzes that may help an individual determine whether or not he should seek proper diagnosis.
| 
