Schizoid Personality Disorder

Excerpt

Schizoid personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a limited range of emotional expression in interpersonal settings. Individuals with schizoid personality disorder exhibit significant social withdrawal and are often seen as eccentric, solitary, or isolated. Their discomfort with social interactions leads them to use introversion as a defense mechanism to avoid psychological discomfort. The term "schizoid" was originally coined by Bleuler to describe the early seclusiveness and isolation observed in schizophrenia and has been included in every edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Schizotypal personality disorder was not introduced in the DSM until 1980 (DSM-III). Before that, the diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder encompassed a broader range of conditions, described as "nonpsychotic schizophrenia-type illness." Since the publication of DSM-III, schizoid personality disorder has been among the least studied personality disorders, with limited empirical investigations. Personality disorders that significantly decrease quality of life include schizoid, avoidant, schizotypal, and borderline personality disorders. Unfortunately, further research is needed to better understand and address these conditions.

Personality disorders are commonly grouped into 3 clusters based on shared characteristics consistent with the DSM-5-TR. These have classically been referred to as clusters A, B, and C. Cluster A includes personality disorders with odd or eccentric traits, such as paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders. Cluster B includes personality disorders characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior, such as antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders. Cluster C encompasses personality disorders with anxious and fearful traits, including avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Despite its historical use, the "cluster" system has limitations in categorizing personality disorders, and the 3 groupings are not consistently validated in the literature.