Description of Schizoid Personality Disorder

According to the DSM-IV (1994, p. 638), the essential feature of the schizoid personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings. These individuals appear to lack a desire for intimacy. They spend time alone and select activities that do not include interaction with others.

The ICD-10 (1994, p. 225) describes the schizoid personality disorder as characterized by withdrawal from affectional, social and other contacts, with a preference for fantasy, solitary activities and introspection. There is a limited capacity to express feelings and to experience pleasures.

Millon & Davis (1996, p. 217) describe the SPD as the asocial pattern characterized by a deficiency in the ability to experience pleasure. Kalus (1995, p. 58) believes that the schizoid personality disorder is distinguished by the predominance of negative symptoms associated with the schizophrenia spectrum disorders, i.e., social, interpersonal, and affective deficits without psychotic-like cognitive/perceptual distortions.

The diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder should not be used if the pattern of behavior occurs only during the course of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders or is due to neurological or other medical conditions (DSM-IV™, 1994, p. 639).

Individuals with SPD may have particular difficulty expressing anger, even when directly provoked. They often react passively to adverse circumstances and may not respond appropriately to important life events. These individuals may experience brief (minutes to hours) psychotic episodes in response to stress. SPD can be, but is not necessarily, an antecedent disorder to schizophrenia, major depression, or a delusional disorder. The most frequent co-occurring personality disorders with SPD are schizotypal, paranoid, and avoidant personality disorders. SPD is diagnosed more frequently in males who seem to be more impaired than females with SPD (DSM-IV, 1994, p. 639).

SPD is uncommon in clinical treatment settings. It can be very difficult to differentiate from autistic or asperger's disorder. SPD is differentiated from schizotypal personality disorder by the lack of perceptual distortions. It is differentiated from paranoid personality disorder by lack of suspiciousness and paranoid ideation (DSM-IV, 1994, pp. 639-640).

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Reviewed: 04/2006