What Does Schizoid Personality Disorder Look Like?
Schizoid personality disorder can make it hard to form relationships, socialize, and spend time with others. This Cluster A personality disorder usually develops early in life, possibly due to childhood experiences or genetics. While more research may be needed, treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy, schema therapy, and metacognitive reflection and insight therapy could be helpful.
What is schizoid personality disorder?
Schizoid personality disorder (ScPD) is a disorder that can affect people’s relationships and social interactions. It often emerges in childhood or young adulthood.
People with schizoid personality disorder typically avoid social situations and have little interest in forming relationships. They may seem emotionally distant and struggle to connect with others. As a result, they often spend most of their time by themselves. This can create various personal and professional challenges. People with ScPD may be at a higher risk of depression and anxiety disorders.
Symptoms of schizoid personality disorder may include the following:
- A lack of interest in socializing or relationships
- Having little to no interest in sex
- A desire to spend life alone
- Trouble feeling pleasure
- Behavior that comes across as “cold” or “stand-offish”
- A lack of goals or motivation to achieve them
Although it’s not known what exactly causes ScPD, it’s thought that genetics are one of the main risk factors for developing schizoid personality disorder. Having a childhood caregiver who was emotionally distant may also play a role.
Schizoid personality disorder vs. other disorders
Schizoid personality disorder can sometimes be hard to diagnose. This is because its symptoms may overlap with other personality disorders and conditions. While these disorders may seem similar on the surface, there are a few key differences that may be worth considering.
Autism spectrum disorders: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that usually affects how the brain develops. People on the autism spectrum may:
- Struggle with communication
- Have unusual sleeping or eating patterns
- Have intense and specific interests
- Follow specific routines
- Move repetitively
Both ASD and ScPD can contribute to people avoiding social interactions, but the reasons behind this avoidance tend to be different. In a 2021 study of 72 people on the autism spectrum, researchers noted that those with ASD tend to naturally have more trouble with socializing. On the other hand, those with ScPD are often able to socialize, but lack the motivation to do so.
Avoidant personality disorder: Avoidant personality disorder is another disorder that can affect social relationships. It often develops at a young age, and it may cause symptoms like:
- Avoidance of social interactions
- Intense fear of rejection and criticism
- Extreme social anxiety
- A strong sense of inadequacy
These symptoms can also seem similar to schizoid personality disorder, but again, there are usually differences. In 2015, researchers screened 123 participants for personality disorders, as well as other key personality traits. They found that what set ScPD apart from avoidant personality disorder was that people with ScPD typically didn’t experience pleasure from being social. In contrast, people with avoidant personality disorder may enjoy socializing, but they may avoid it due to fear of rejection.
Schizotypal personality disorder: Due to their similar names, it can be easy to confuse schizoid personality disorder with schizotypal personality disorder, or STPD. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), published by the American Psychiatric Association, both these disorders are listed as “Cluster A” personality disorders.
Unlike schizoid personality disorder, STPD falls under the category of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This category generally includes disorders that can affect people’s thoughts and beliefs, like schizophrenia and delusional disorder. STPD may cause symptoms like:
- Challenges in social situations
- Trouble maintaining relationships
- Unusual beliefs or worries
- Unusual ways of speaking or showing emotion
Although people with STPD may also have trouble socializing, they tend to have unusual ways of thinking, talking, and acting that don’t usually impact people with ScPD.
Can schizoid personality disorder be treated?
People with ScPD usually don’t seek treatment. As a result, it can be hard to know which treatments might improve their symptoms. That said, several types of therapy may help people with the disorder improve their social interactions and quality of life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Also known as CBT, this form of therapy generally focuses on learning to notice negative beliefs and behaviors. Individuals may then be taught to replace them with more helpful ones. For someone with schizoid personality disorder, CBT might focus on identifying and changing harmful beliefs about relationships and emotional attachment.
Psychodynamic therapy
This form of therapy typically analyzes how a person’s life experiences and unconscious thoughts might be affecting them. This type of therapy may be helpful if someone’s childhood experiences played a role in causing their symptoms.
Metacognitive reflection and insight therapy
Also known as MERIT, this is an emerging form of therapy that normally aims to help people understand their own thoughts. In a 2022 case study, researchers combined MERIT with another form of therapy, compassion-focused therapy. Compassion-focused therapy usually aims to help people develop compassion for themselves and others. This approach frequently led to symptom improvement in people with schizoid personality disorder, although research is still in its early stages.
Schema therapy
Schema therapy typically helps people gain insight into their deep-rooted patterns of thinking, or “schemas.” Because these can shape the ways people see the world, the goal is often to replace the unhelpful schemas with more helpful ones. This may help people with ScPD learn to relate to others in a healthier way.
If you’re living with ScPD, it might be hard to motivate yourself to talk to a therapist. Online therapy may be an easier option. With platforms like BetterHelp, you can work with a mental health professional from wherever is most convenient. If you dislike social interaction, the option to receive therapy via online chat may be helpful.
Online therapy can treat depression and anxiety, which tend to be common among people with schizoid personality disorder. In a 2016 study, 704 patients with depression and anxiety participated in an internet-based CBT program for six months. Researchers found that online therapy often led to significant improvements in their symptoms.
Takeaway
Schizoid personality disorder, or ScPD, tends to emerge early in life. It’s a disorder that can cause people to lack interest in socializing and forming relationships. As a result, they may come across as cold or emotionally distant. Because this disorder may seem similar to other mental health conditions, it can sometimes be hard to diagnose. Treating it can also be challenging. However, certain types of online or in-person therapy may improve people’s symptoms, interactions, and relationships.
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