Today learn more about Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, and Antisocial Personality Disorders!
When I say Personality Disorder many think about Schizophrenia or Multiple Personality Disorder. Personality Disorders are a lot more complicated than that there are many different kinds. They are generally split into A, B, and C categories, also known as Suspicious, Emotional and Impulsive, and Anxious. Today we are going to be discussing the disorders in Cluster A or the Suspicious disorders.
The first disorder we're going to discuss is Paranoid Personality Disorder or PPD. This disorder starts generally in early adulthood and affects more men than women (luxury). Some of the symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Pervasive distrust and suspicion of others and their motives
- Unjustified belief that others are trying to harm or deceive you
- Unjustified suspicion of the loyalty or trustworthiness of others
- Hesitancy to confide in others due to unreasonable fear that others will use the information against you
- Perception of innocent remarks or nonthreatening situations as personal insults or attacks
(mayo)
This disorder causes those struggling with it to have a hard time forming close relationships and accepting criticism from others. "Medication and psychotherapy have been proven to be extremely effective (luxury)."
The second disorder in the Suspicious category is Schizoid Personality Disorder. Although this disorder may sound like schizophrenia it is quite different because those struggling with this disorder do not suffer from psychotic symptoms (mind). However, the symptoms may include:
- Lack of interest in social or personal relationships, preferring to be alone
- Limited range of emotional expression
- Inability to take pleasure in most activities
- Inability to pick up normal social cues
(mayo)
This disorder starts manifesting in early adulthood and those who have it are not generally characterized as having lost touch with reality. They usually function quite well in daily life but tend to prefer animals to people. "Individual therapy that successfully attains a long-term level of trust may be useful (psychology)."
The third disorder we are going to take a look at is Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Once again it may seem like schizophrenia or schizoid, but it is not. Again, someone struggling with this disorder won't experience psychotic symptoms but they may:
- Have distorted thoughts or perceptions
- Find making close relationships extremely difficult
- Think and express yourself in ways that others find 'odd', using unusual words or phrases, making relating to others difficult
- Believe that you can read minds or that you have special powers such as a ‘sixth sense’
(mind)
Someone with this disorder may also struggle with anxiety or depression (harvard). This disorder can also cause memory, learning and attention problems (harvard). A combination of medication for severe symptoms and some therapy tends to help them be able to interact more socially.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is sometimes considered to be part of the Suspicious category, other times it is considered to be part of the Emotional and Impulsive category. We are going to be including it in the Suspicious post today.
Some of the symptoms associated with this disorder are:
- They have no respect for others
- They may persistently lie, cheat, steal and commit violent acts
- They may never feel guilt about [their] actions
- They may seem irritable, violent and brash
- They act on every impulse without considering the effect it might have on others
(luxury)
"ASPD is very difficult to treat. Typically, your doctor will try a combination of psychotherapy and medication (healthline)."
These disorders are very complex and the associated symptoms are only some of the symptoms someone struggling with these disorders may have. If you know someone who has any of these symptoms please encourage them to speak to a therapist in order to learn how to live with their symptoms. If you are someone struggling with any of these symptoms, please reach out. Remember that it is okay to ask for help!
If you have any questions about depression or anxiety please read our other posts!
Learn More:
American Addiction Centers Editorial Staff. “Paranoid Personality Disorder: Signs and Treatments: Rehabs.” Luxury.Rehabs.com, Rehabs.com, 12 Aug. 2019, luxury.rehabs.com/personality-disorders/paranoid/.
“Antisocial Personality Disorder.” Healthline.com, Healthline Media, 22 Feb. 2016, www.healthline.com/health/antisocial-personality-disorder#treatments.
Harvard Health Publishing. “Schizotypal Personality Disorder.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/schizotypal-personality-disorder-a-to-z.
Mind. “Personality Disorders.” Types of Personality Disorder, www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/personality-disorders/types-of-personality-disorder/#ParanoidPersonalityDisorder.
“Personality Disorders.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 Sept. 2016, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/personality-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20354463.
“Schizoid Personality Disorder.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, LLC, 2020, www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/schizoid-personality-disorder.
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