The Schizophrenic Continuum
Based on family inheritance and genetic studies, Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizoid PD are considered to be part of a "schizophrenic spectrum" of mental illness. Although Schizophrenia is categorized as a Psychotic Disorder and both Schizoid and Schyzotypal are Personality Disorders, all three share several symptoms, including avoidance of social relations and flat emotional affect. An important distinction is that people with Schizoid Personality don't typically experience the perceptual distortions, paranoia or illusions typical of Schizotypal Personality or the psychotic episodes of Schizophrenia (Nakamura 2005, Questa 2001, Widiger 2007).
Links to Articles on Disorders Within the Schizophrenic Spectrum:
There are several subtypes of schizophrenia and symptoms are extremely variable, but frequently include aural, visual, or other sensory hallucinations, such as hearing disembodied voices or seeing and feeling things that aren’t actually present. Delusions, or false beliefs that are in conflict with reality, are also commonly experienced.
Schizophrenic symptoms typically begin between adolescence and early adulthood, onset often corresponding to a stressful or transitional period, such as going off to college or beginning full-time employment. Over time, as the disorder progresses, additional symptoms may develop, such as a reduced range of emotional expression (Butcher 2007).
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Schizotypal personalities are characterized by odd forms of thought, perception and beliefs. They may have bizarre mannerisms, an eccentric appearance, and speech that is excessively elaborate and difficult to follow. However, these cognitive distortions and eccentricities are only considered to be a disorder when the behaviors become persistent and very disabling or distressing.
In social interactions, schizotypals may react inappropriately, not react at all, or talk to themselves. They may believe that they have extra sensory powers or that they are connected to unrelated events in some important way. However, they tend to avoid intimacy and typically have few close friends (Dobbert 2007).
Individuals with Schizoid Personality are characteristically detached from social relationships and show a restricted range of expressed emotions. Their social skills are weak, and they do not typically express a need for attention or approval. They may be perceived by others as somber and aloof, and often are referred to as "loners." (Dobbert 2007).
More Information on Psychological Disorders
There are numerous on-line and in print resources with additional information on psychiatric disorders, including: Psychology Prof Online, Schizphrenia.com, and the Suite101.com article Types of Personality Disorders.
This article is a brief summary of psychiatric disorders that some experts consider to be part of a schizophrenic spectrum. The contents of this article are not meant to be used for diagnosis and are not a substitute for professional help and counseling.
Additional Sources
American Psychiatric Association APA (2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S. and Hooley, J. M. (2007) Abnormal Psychology. Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
Dobbert, D. (2007) Understanding Personality Disorders: An Introduction. Greenwood Press.
Nakamura M. McCarley R.W., Kubicki M., et al. (2005) Fronto-Temporal Disconnectivity in Schizotypal Personality Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Biological Psychiatry, 58, 6.
Questa, M. J., Peralta, V., and Zarzuela, A. (2001) Are personality traits associated with cognitive disturbance in psychosis? Schizophrenia Research, 51, 2-3.
Widiger, T. A. (2007) Dimensional Models of Personality Disorders; Refining the Research Agenda for DSM-V. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
Tami Port - Tami Port is a college professor of cell and microbiology and creator of ScienceProfOnline.com, a free science education website.
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