Schizoid personality disorder impairs social interaction, causing a preference for a solitary lifestyle. Traumatic childhoods and genetics can cause the disorder, and treatment involves medication and therapy. Those with the disorder are unlikely to seek help.
A schizoid personality disorder is a mental condition that impairs healthy social interaction with others. It is often characterized by difficulties forming or maintaining relationships, a preference for a solitary lifestyle, and a strong detachment from society itself. People with this personality disorder are typically single, have limited contact with their family, have few or no friends, and tend to work jobs with little or no social interaction.
A combination of environmental factors and genetics can cause schizoid personality disorder. While there is no definite cause for the disorder, a large proportion of patients who suffer from it have had very traumatic or sad childhoods, typically involving very few close friends and an excess of strained family relationships. Since the child has to learn at an early age to cope with her independence, he carries these practices with him later in life. Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia, a similar, more debilitating mental disorder, are also more prone to developing personality disorders of their own. When these backgrounds and genetics are combined, the likelihood of developing this personality disorder increases enormously.
Individuals with schizoid personality disorder tend to come across as very aloof or hostile to others, when in reality it is the disorder itself that prevents proper social interaction. Many people with the disorder will avoid social gatherings altogether, opting for more solitary forms of entertainment. Emotional relationships are often very difficult to be a part of, making it unlikely that a person with the disorder will be able to maintain a healthy marriage or other long-term relationship. While some contact with family members may still occur, it is often infrequent and as brief as possible. People with schizoid personality disorder often find work on night shifts, jobs that allow them to work from home, or jobs that involve solitary research, such as in a laboratory setting.
The biggest challenge in treating schizoid personality disorder is the fact that people with this condition are highly unlikely to seek help on their own, and with their limited social interactions, they may not have anyone close to them who would suggest they look for treatment options. When they are able to get help, treating the condition often involves the use of prescribed medications and behavioral therapy. Antipsychotic drugs, often the same ones used to treat schizophrenia, are the most commonly prescribed. Behavior therapy and talk therapy are also viable solutions, but are difficult to implement until the patient is willing to open up to some level of interpersonal communication.
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