Schizoid vs. Schizotypal Personality Disorders

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinition of Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality DisordersComparing the SymptomsDiagnostic Criteria for Both DisordersPrevalence and CausesTreatment Options

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition of Schizoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders

Comparing the Symptoms

Diagnostic Criteria for Both Disorders

Prevalence and Causes

Treatment Options

Close

Two of those personality disorders—belonging to “Cluster A” disorders—are schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality disorder. Read on to learn more about these personality disorders and how to recognize them.

“Cluster A” personality disorders include paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.

Schizoid and schizotypal have, at first glance, some overlapping signs and symptoms, but they are in fact very different.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Someone withschizoid personality disorderis not interested in and may be unable to form close relationships with others, either romantic or friendship-based, although they may possess a rich internal fantasy world. It’s also very difficult for people with schizoid personality to exhibit a wide array of emotions. Their affect—the way they express emotions—isbluntedand can cause them to come off as aloof, disengaged, and distant.

One easy way to remember the difference between schizoid and schizotypal is that “schizoid” rhymes with “devoid”—as in, devoid of emotion.

This lack of expression makes it appear as though people with schizoid personality disorder do not care about other people or about what is happening to them and around them.

While schizoid personality disorder can sometimes mimic what are known as“negative symptoms” in schizophrenia—specifically, a blunted affect and difficulty connecting with others—people with this disorder do not experience hallucinations or delusions.

They are able to express their thoughts to others in a clear and cogent way, as opposed to experiencing the disorganized thought process that is common with psychotic disorders.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

People with schizotypal personality disorder also consistently hold distorted views of reality, tend to be extremely superstitious, and display unusual behaviors related todelusional thinkingsuch as magical beliefs (think: never stepping on a sidewalk crack because you are absolutely convinced that it will actually break your mother’s back).

These superstitions and behaviors are often expressed with what most people would consider odd speech, making those with schizotypal personality disorder appear affected and strange to people who aren’t familiar with the condition.

One of the defining aspects of schizotypal personality disorder is that the person experiencing it might not realize that their behavior, speech, or beliefs are unusual, and often cannot recognize when their actions may be problematic.

Although there are some overlapping qualities between schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders, they are in fact quite different.

The relationship with reality is also vastly different between these two disorders.

As far as these disorders’ connections to schizophrenia go, they are both different here as well. Schizoid personality disorder is not related to and does not lead to schizophrenia. The development of schizotypal personality disorder, on the other hand, might lead to full-blown schizophrenia (both conditions usually appear in early adulthood).

Schizoid Personality DisorderNo interest in relationshipsIndifferent to praise or criticismLack of affect/range of emotionsNo psychotic symptomsSchizotypal Personality DisorderAcute discomfort with and reduced capacity for relationshipsAffect/emotions might be restricted or inappropriateUnusual behavior, odd thinking, superstitionSuspiciousness or paranoia may be present

Schizoid Personality DisorderNo interest in relationshipsIndifferent to praise or criticismLack of affect/range of emotionsNo psychotic symptoms

No interest in relationships

Indifferent to praise or criticism

Lack of affect/range of emotions

No psychotic symptoms

Schizotypal Personality DisorderAcute discomfort with and reduced capacity for relationshipsAffect/emotions might be restricted or inappropriateUnusual behavior, odd thinking, superstitionSuspiciousness or paranoia may be present

Acute discomfort with and reduced capacity for relationships

Affect/emotions might be restricted or inappropriate

Unusual behavior, odd thinking, superstition

Suspiciousness or paranoia may be present

According to the DSM-5, the following factors must be present to be diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder:

With schizotypal personality disorder, the following factors must be present:

For both conditions, these symptoms cannot be attributed to another medical condition, and these symptoms cannot occur in the setting or context of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder with psychotic features, another psychotic disorder or an autism spectrum disorder.

Both schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality disorder are relatively uncommon. By some estimates the prevalence of schizoid personality disorder (how many people are living with this condition) is 3.1%.whereas being slightly more prominent in men, whereas the prevalence of schizotypal personality disorder in some studies is about 3.9%.

The causes of both schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders are unknown, but it is generally felt that hereditary and genetics play a significant role along with environmental factors. Some researchers believe there might be a connection between schizoid personality disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

With schizotypal personality disorder, changes in brain function during development, environmental factors (such as where you grew up and with whom and other early exposures), and learned behaviors might play a part.

In addition, the risk of developing schizotypal personality disorder might be higher if you have a relative with a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia.

People with schizoid or schizotypal personality disorder might only seek treatment at the behest of friends or family; or, they might seek treatment for a co-occurring condition, such as depression or anxiety, rather than for the personality disorder itself. In these cases, they might be prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotics or other medication to treat their symptoms.

There are no medications with a specific indication for schizoid or schizotypal personality disorder.

Those with schizoid personality disorder can benefit fromtalk therapyin both individual and group settings. Talk therapy modalities likecognitive behavioral therapyand psychodynamic psychotherapy can help those with schizoid examine their emotional responses and approach to relationships, while group therapy can help them learn and practice social skills.

If you or a loved one are dealing either schizoid or schizotypal personality disorder, talk to a doctor to find out which treatment options may be worth exploring.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schultze-Lutter F, Nenadic I, Grant P.Psychosis and Schizophrenia-Spectrum Personality Disorders Require Early Detection on Different Symptom Dimensions. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 11;10:476. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00476. PMID: 31354543; PMCID: PMC6637034.Fariba, K. A. (2022, June 9). Schizoid personality disorder. StatPearls [Internet].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559234/Moini, J., Koenitzer, J., & LoGalbo, A. (2021, May 21). Personality disorders. Global Emergency of Mental Disorders.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323858373000017Koch J, Modesitt T, Palmer M, Ward S, Martin B, Wyatt R, Thomas C.Review of pharmacologic treatment in cluster A personality disorders.Ment Health Clin. 2016 Mar 8;6(2):75-81. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2016.03.75. PMID: 29955451; PMCID: PMC6007578.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schultze-Lutter F, Nenadic I, Grant P.Psychosis and Schizophrenia-Spectrum Personality Disorders Require Early Detection on Different Symptom Dimensions. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 11;10:476. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00476. PMID: 31354543; PMCID: PMC6637034.Fariba, K. A. (2022, June 9). Schizoid personality disorder. StatPearls [Internet].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559234/Moini, J., Koenitzer, J., & LoGalbo, A. (2021, May 21). Personality disorders. Global Emergency of Mental Disorders.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323858373000017Koch J, Modesitt T, Palmer M, Ward S, Martin B, Wyatt R, Thomas C.Review of pharmacologic treatment in cluster A personality disorders.Ment Health Clin. 2016 Mar 8;6(2):75-81. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2016.03.75. PMID: 29955451; PMCID: PMC6007578.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Schultze-Lutter F, Nenadic I, Grant P.Psychosis and Schizophrenia-Spectrum Personality Disorders Require Early Detection on Different Symptom Dimensions. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 11;10:476. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00476. PMID: 31354543; PMCID: PMC6637034.Fariba, K. A. (2022, June 9). Schizoid personality disorder. StatPearls [Internet].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559234/Moini, J., Koenitzer, J., & LoGalbo, A. (2021, May 21). Personality disorders. Global Emergency of Mental Disorders.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323858373000017Koch J, Modesitt T, Palmer M, Ward S, Martin B, Wyatt R, Thomas C.Review of pharmacologic treatment in cluster A personality disorders.Ment Health Clin. 2016 Mar 8;6(2):75-81. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2016.03.75. PMID: 29955451; PMCID: PMC6007578.

Schultze-Lutter F, Nenadic I, Grant P.Psychosis and Schizophrenia-Spectrum Personality Disorders Require Early Detection on Different Symptom Dimensions. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 11;10:476. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00476. PMID: 31354543; PMCID: PMC6637034.

Fariba, K. A. (2022, June 9). Schizoid personality disorder. StatPearls [Internet].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559234/

Moini, J., Koenitzer, J., & LoGalbo, A. (2021, May 21). Personality disorders. Global Emergency of Mental Disorders.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323858373000017

Koch J, Modesitt T, Palmer M, Ward S, Martin B, Wyatt R, Thomas C.Review of pharmacologic treatment in cluster A personality disorders.Ment Health Clin. 2016 Mar 8;6(2):75-81. doi: 10.9740/mhc.2016.03.75. PMID: 29955451; PMCID: PMC6007578.

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