Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by having distorted thinking or uncommon thoughts. Additionally, individuals with schizotypal personality disorder often have difficulty forming relationships and experience social anxiety . They may also display signs of “magical thinking” and have outlandish beliefs. 

Symptoms of schizotypal personality disorders may include: 

• Peculiar appearance, thinking, beliefs, speech, or behaviour 
• Odd perceptual experiences, like hearing a voice or whisper 
• Flat affect or inappropriate emotional responses 
• Social anxiety or discomfort with close relationships 
• Having few, if any, close relationships
• Inappropriateness or suspicious responses towards others 
• Having significant distrust of others 
• “Magical thinking” like believing you can influence people or events with your thoughts or belief in special powers 
• Belief that certain casual events have hidden messages meant only for you

Schizotypal Personality Disorder vs. Schizophrenia 

Individuals with schizotypal personality disorder rarely experience brief psychotic episodes containing hallucinations or delusions, however, if they are present, these episodes are not as frequent or intense as they are in schizophrenia. Additionally, individuals with schizotypal personality disorder can often be made aware of the difference between their distorted thoughts and reality, whereas an individual suffering with schizophrenia may not be able to do so.