Schizotypal Forum

A lot of research on schizotypal personality disorder seems to suggest that it is related to schizophrenia, and I've noticed a few people here naming it Schizotypal Disorder, without "personality" in the middle. I was wondering what you think - is this a behavioral personality thing or a schiz-related organic disorder?

In America it is a personality disorder, internationally it's not. I think that's why people sometimes write Schizotypal Disorder, because that's what it's called in Europe and other places.

It's an interesting question, though. Personally I believe it is an illness on the schizophrenic spectrum, an organic illness and not a personality disorder. This is what my pdoc tells me too.

an organic illness? hmm i dont know, have no idea but as i can remember i had to do lots of tests.and the diagnose was schizoaffektive disorder, if i dont have an organic prob. in my brain. therefore i had to make a MRT.and there was nothing.after all that,they told me i got SPD, and nowadays hes suspecting
bipolardisorder etc. bah dont know, sometimes its just names for me and i dont care.i know my problems and i can see that with the therapy its going better.

I see what you mean; they're just labels and labels are for jars .

The important part is finding therapy that helps.

People without the condition would consider it a disorder and psychologists would you add personality as a term.
In my mind it's a condition I am what I am and it's in my DNA. My goal is to make sure it is a stable mutation with purpose.

One thing it's not is a illness but must be managed like all my other emotions - through an understanding and implied logic.

Piggsylamb

Here in my country, Finland, it is actually called straightly translated as Psychosis Featured Personality. But my opinion of Finnish psychologists and shrinks is low. They told me in neuropsychological tests that it is something that can never be cured. So I think it rather related to Schizophrenia. Especially because I have had all the features that many Schizophrenia risk children have. I was born to be odd, it has never changed. It is what started the school bullying. The mental side has come as extra burden afterwards during the years of pain.

from what i understand, schizotypy is related to schizophrenia; but is considered a milder form of mental disorder because of a few differences related to delusional thoughts and beliefs, and those who are diagnosed are (so it is believed) susceptible to, but not condemned to developing schizophrenia.

According to the books... a good percentage of people with Schizotypal PD go on to develop schizophrenia. The symptoms, if you compare them, are almost exactly the same.... actually I can look it up right now in my (slightly dated) DSM Yeah, really the only way to tell the difference is in the severity... they add things like "markedly peculiar behavior" and "prominent hallucinations" But also they have deficits in speech, disorganization, inappropriate affect (meaning you may not be sad by your dog dying, you may somehow find it funny)

You may not, however, be diagnosed as StPD while any other psychotic disorder is occurring... schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform (schizophrenia for a shorter period) brief psychotic disorder, reactive psychosis... etc.

One major difference which separates having StPD as a personality disorder and having it as early onset schizophrenia is that schizophrenia is physically based and normally results from or in some sort of change in the brain itself while StPD is anxiety based which is a built in personality trait.

ewingrrl wrote:One major difference which separates having StPD as a personality disorder and having it as early onset schizophrenia is that schizophrenia is physically based and normally results from or in some sort of change in the brain itself while StPD is anxiety based which is a built in personality trait.

Well there's a general agreement that StPD has a genetic factor, just like schizophrenia. What do you mean StPD is anxiety based?