Diagnosis
People with schizotypal personality disorder may seek help from a healthcare professional because of other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression or problems coping with social situations, or for treatment of substance misuse.
After a physical exam to rule out other medical conditions, your healthcare professional may refer you to a mental health professional for more help to figure out the diagnosis.
Diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder usually is based on:
- A thorough discussion about your symptoms and any hard times you're having.
- Your personal and medical history, including treatments that you've had.
Treatment
Treatment for schizotypal personality disorder often includes talk therapy and medicine. Many people can be helped by work and social activities that are a fit for their personality styles.
Talk therapy
Talk therapy, also called psychotherapy, may help people with schizotypal personality disorder begin to trust others and learn coping skills, especially how to manage social relationships and situations. This is done by building a trusting relationship with a therapist.
Psychotherapy may include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — Uncovering and challenging negative thought patterns, learning specific social skills, and changing problem behaviors.
- Supportive therapy — Offering encouragement and promoting adaptive skills.
- Family therapy — Involving family members, which may make communication and trust better and make people better able to work together with others in the home.
Medicines
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any medicines specifically to treat schizotypal personality disorder. But healthcare professionals may prescribe an antidepressant medicine to help ease certain symptoms, such as depression or anxiety. Periodically, some people may need to be prescribed an antipsychotic medicine to address hallucinations or delusions. Some medicines may help people think about things in a new way or more than one way, known as flexible thinking.
Coping and support
Schizotypal personality disorder is a lifelong condition. Some symptoms may get better over time through experiences that promote positive coping skills. This can raise self-confidence, help get over things that are hard and improve ability to manage social situations.
Factors most likely to make some symptoms of this condition better include:
- Getting along well with friends and family and in other social situations, such as doing tasks that bring you in contact with others.
- Maintaining healthy daily routines, including having a schedule, following a good sleep routine, exercising and regularly taking prescribed medicines at the same time.
- Having a sense of achievement at school or work, and in other interests or hobbies.
Preparing for your appointment
You're likely to start by seeing your healthcare professional. But when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Take a family member or friend along, if possible. With your permission, someone who has known you for a long time may be able to help answer questions or share information with the mental health professional that you don't think to bring up.
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.
What you can do
Before your appointment, make a list of:
- Any symptoms you or your family noticed, and for how long. Ask friends or family members if they've felt concerned about your behavior and what they've noticed.
- Important personal information, including distressing events in your past and any current, major stressors. Find out about your family's medical history, including any history of mental illness.
- Your medical information, including other physical or mental health conditions that you've been diagnosed with.
- All medicines you take, including the names and doses of any medicines, herbs, vitamins or other supplements you take.
- Substances that you use, including what you smoke or drink, as well as any prescribed or recreational drugs you use.
- Questions to ask your healthcare professional to make the most of your appointment.
Some basic questions to ask include:
- What is likely causing my symptoms?
- What are other possible causes for my symptoms?
- What treatments are most likely to help me?
- How much can I expect my symptoms to get better with treatment?
- How often will I need talk therapy, and for how long?
- Are there medicines that can help?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- If you're recommending medicines, what are the possible side effects?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material I can take? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you several questions, such as:
- What are your symptoms?
- When did you or your family first notice these symptoms?
- How are your symptoms affecting your life?
- Have your family members or friends expressed concern about your behavior?
- Do you feel comfortable in social situations? Why or why not?
- Do you have any close relationships?
- If you're not satisfied with work, school or how well you get along with others, what do you think is causing your problems?
- Have you ever thought about harming yourself or others? Have you ever done so?
- Have you ever felt that other people can control your thoughts or that you could influence other people and events through your thoughts?
- Have any of your close relatives been diagnosed with or treated for a mental health condition?
Your healthcare professional or mental health professional might ask more questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs. Preparing for these questions will help you make the most of your appointment time.