Schizotypal Personality Disorder - Research Paper Example

Schizotypal personality disorder Insert Insert Schizotypal personality disorder is of main characteristics by the individual’s withdrawal from social activities. The affected person also has minimal friends and there are several cases of hallucinations resulting from the adverse effects of the disease. The paper discusses schizotypal personality disorder on the different aspects. These include diagnostic criteria, prevention, treatment, social-cultural issues pertaining to the disorder and the biblical view of the disorder. I. Introduction Schizotypal is a character whose characteristic in individuals is mainly through isolation. Individuals with schizotypal disorder usually have a reference to as odd and eccentric because of the limited number of close relationships they have. The individuals with schizotypal personal disorders do not understand the process of making friends, which eventually result in, closer relationships. These individuals tend to distance themselves from social and interactive activities where they can make friends easily. The individuals with schizotypal personal disorder are mainly severely anxious and show introvert characters (Pull, 2014). According to the specific criteria of schizotypal disorder, one should meet at least five of the following criteria: · Personalization of external events · Abnormal thinking and behavior and belief in supernatural powers like telepathy · Vague speaking patterns or tendencies of going off tangents · Paranoid as well as suspicious ideas · Complete inadequacy of close friends apart from the family relationships · Flat emotional responses · Extreme and persistent social anxiety that do not relate with time. II. History Schizotypal personality disorder existed before its original recognition by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980. The personality disorder was initially confused with schizophrenia because of the common symptoms of the two personality disorders. The disorder had an official presentation on the American Psychiatric Association diagnostic manual in 1980 though psychiatrists trace the disorder’s existence one hundred years before its official recognition (Myers, 2009). The Schizotypal personality disorder has primary reference to as borderline, latent schizophrenia and ambulatory which made it difficult to discover the disease early in adolescence; therefore, there were difficulties in formulating its appropriate treatment mechanism. The American Psychiatric Association, however, discovered the differences in symptoms between schizophrenia and schizotypal in 1970s and later in 1980; it has a category as a personal disease under the schizophrenia spectrum. Schizotypal personality disorder is one of the psychiatric concepts developed by Spitzer recently. Spitzer developed the concept of diagnosing schizotypal late 1970s. During this development, Spitzer mainly based his description of the Schizotypal personality disorder on a critical review of the characteristics schizophrenic victims’ relatives. The analysis is by use of the subjects who were included in adoption studies by Kety, Wender and Rosenthal (Ryan, 2013). The name of the schizotypal personality disorder had initial development in 1960s as a short form of the schizophrenia, but researchers later identified different symptoms that differentiated the two disorders in 1970s. Cases of schizotypal personal disorders trace back among several ancient characters in the bible and other religious documentary. However, majority of the ancient victims of this disease had category as severe mental cases, therefore, no treatment provision. III. Causes of Schizotypal Personality Disorder The risk factors of schizotypal personal disorder vary from environmental to genetic causes. Genetically, the disorder has transmission from a relative to another. Research shows that individuals experiencing the symptoms of schizotypal personal disorder have either relatives suffering from the disorder among the extended or nuclear family. The genetic causes of the disorder have transmission from individuals and may not present themselves at old age. The disorder mainly presents itself in teenagers especially during adolescence (Ripoll, 2013). The schizotypal personality disorder results from relatives with disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum. Research shows that, individuals suffering from schizotypal personality disorder have relatives with disorders such as schizophrenia and schizoid. The close relation between the different personality disorders can have some easy trace in family members suffering from the personality disorders. Individuals find it difficult to differentiate the symptoms of the different personality disorders, therefore, has the only identification through a professional diagnosis (Ripoll, 2013). The disorders also vary depending on individuals, which imply that relatives with schizoid and schizophrenia can transfer schizotypal to other relatives. Schizotypal personality disorder has a main characteristic by impairment in observing external issues, which results from attention impairment. Research proves that the environment where the child grows can be a major cause of schizotypal personality disorder. Poor parenting has regard as the major environmental cause of schizotypal personality disorder. Strict parenting and abandoning kids at a young age translates to depression since the child has no one to share her social endeavors. Isolation in kid’s results, in schizotypal since the child, feels isolated and translates most of the social events personally. Maltreatment history results in schizotypal symptoms in children especially by the parents or other children in school (Pull, 2014). IV. Treatment of Schizotypal Personality Disorder Treatment of the schizotypal personality disorder has the category in the form of medications, psychotherapy, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy and family therapy. Researchers have not formulated a specific drug for the treatment of schizotypal personality disorder. The doctors handling individuals affected by the schizotypal personality disorder are, however, advised to prescribe antidepressants, as well as antipsychotic forms of medications. The medication given to the individuals relieves them from anxiety, depression, and other mood related disorders. The examples of medications prescribed to such individuals include risperidone and Zyprexa, which enhances in relieving distortion in thinking (Pull, 2014). Psychotherapy is another form of treatment given to individuals suffering from schizotypal personality disorder. The individuals have to build a close relationship with therapists who enhance their trust towards other individuals in the society. Exposure of individuals suffering from schizotypal personality disorder enables the individuals to share their personal endeavors with an outside person (Asami, 2013). Behavior therapy is another form of treatment given to individuals suffering from schizotypal personality disorder. Behavior therapy allows the affected persons to respond to various social cues by use of the right words, voice tone as well as facial expressions. On the other hand, cognitive therapy allows individuals with schizotypal personality disorder to change distortion in thought patterns. The treatment helps individuals in recognizing and identifying social activities appropriately rather than confusing it with personal interpretation (Ryan, 2013). Family therapy is another treatment given to persons suffering from schizotypal personality disorder. This involves the use of the family members of the affected person through counseling. The family members provide the individual with the much-needed support to undertake their counseling processes, which enhances the individual’s morale. Schizotypal personality disorder can also be treated through exorcism as described in the bible, Casting all concerns on him; for he has good plans for you (1 Peter 5:7) and “Surely he hath borne nor grief, and carries sorrows: yet we did esteem him smitten of Almighty, and face affliction,” (Isaiah 53:4). V. Prevention There is no medical mechanism available for prevention of schizotypal personality disorder. However, many social and environmental methods have establishment in prevention of the disease especially among children. Signs of the schizotypal personality disorder have main reflection on the person’s relation with others in the society. The development of schizotypal personality disorder results from genetic as well environmental factors such as exposure of children to torturous environment. The factors contributing to the development of schizotypal diseases has use in preventing the occurrence of the disease among people descending from families with schizotypal history (Asami, 2013). Exposure of children to environmental factors that result in depression and isolation can enhance schizotypal among the children. Parents should ensure that their children are brought up in favorable conditions, which minimizes the occurrence of stress among the children. The parents should observe the social behaviors of their children to identify any features of social isolation, which might result in schizotypal personality disorder. The parents should also engage the children on their daily activities and daily association with their friends. This allows the parents to counsel their children and advise them on how to make friends efficiently. Identification of the characteristics of the schizotypal personality in children at early stages of their development allows the parents to initiate the respective counseling processes (Berenz, 2013). Schizotypal personality disorder can be result genetic transfer from one relative to another. In the case an individual has relatives suffering from schizophrenic spectrum disorders, they should pass through counseling early enough to prevent the occurrence of the symptoms of schizotypal. The individuals should also be involved actively in social activities, which boost their relationship with others in the society (Ryan, 2013). VI. Cross-Cultural issues of Schizotypal Personality Disorder Regardless of the availability of various research relating schizotypal personality disorder, violence and genetic transfer impacts of the disorder varies about the social, cultural factors. Apart from violence, there are other social-cultural issues pertaining to the schizotypal personality disorder such as racial discrimination, mistreatment and crime. Other social-cultural issue pertaining schizotypal personality disorder has reflection on the disorder impacts on various individuals from various social-cultural backgrounds. Individuals are residing in countries with multiple races population experience racial discrimination in one way or another. Racial discrimination is schools and social activities in these countries results, in schizotypal cases among the minorities. Research shows that, children from the minority races in the United States of America have likelihood to suffer from schizotypal personality disorder because of racial discrimination. The problem of racial discrimination towards children from minority races in schools with children from the major races in a particular country; issues in isolation of the children from social activities such as sports and discussions, therefore, resulting in symptoms of schizotypal personality disorders (Berenz, 2013). Violence is another social-cultural issue pertaining to the schizotypal personality disorder. Violence occurs in different forms in the society about the family set up as well as the community set up. Violence among family members especially the parents results in schizotypal characteristics among children in that particular family. When the children have exposure to violent activities in the communal and the family level, results in traumatic experiences, which enhance schizotypal personality, disorder (Stein, 2012). VII. Biblical Worldview Schizotypal personality disorder has a main characteristic by antisocial approach of life by the affected individuals. The bible outlines different individuals suffering from schizotypal personality disorder in different verses especially the Old Testament. The Gomer as described in the Old Testament suffers from antisocial disorder, (Hosea 2:1-13); which in the modern society has description as schizotypal. The Old Testament outlines different ways of restoring the Gomer from the effects of schizotypal personality disorder. First, the person should have information about their condition with respect to their behavior and the results, (Hosea 2:6). Secondly, the person administering the restoration should not be an enabler of the sinful and extreme behavior of a person but rather offer the restoration in good will. Thirdly, the parents of an individual suffering from the schizotypal personality disorder should let the person suffer the full consequences of the behavior (Myers, 2009). Finally, the person giving the restoration of the schizotypal personality disorder should ensure that the person clearly that there is a possibility of forgiveness and restoration regardless of the sources of the disease. The restoration from the schizotypal personality disorder about the Christian bible has expectation to have a church leader accomplishment. The bible interprets the causes of schizotypal personality disorder as sin hence the need for repentance. However, the modern church interprets the disorders in a different dimension and various Christian counseling groups are present to take care of such individuals (Stein, 2012). VIII. Conclusion Personality disorders have definition as disorders, which affect the person’s personal behavior and interaction in the society. Schizotypal is a personality disorder, which falls under the schizophrenic spectrum, and individuals are suffering from it show antisocial behaviors and personalize the different activities in the society. The disorder can have treatment through various therapies and medications, which minimize the adverse effects of the disorder on the affected person. There is a significant opportunity in further study of this disorder and others for the sake of humanity. References Asami, T., Whitford, T., Bouix, S., Dickey, C., Niznikiewicz, M., & Shenton, M. et al. (2013). Globally and Locally Reduced MRI Gray Matter Volumes in Neuroleptic-Naive Men With Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Association With Negative Symptoms. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(4), 361--372. Berenz, E., Amstadter, A., Aggen, S., Knudsen, G., Reichborn-Kjennerud, T., Gardner, C., & Kendler, K. (2013). Childhood trauma and personality disorder criterion counts: A co-twin control analysis. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 122(4), 1070. Cook, C. (2012). Psychiatry in scripture: sacred texts and psychopathology. The Psychiatrist, 36(6), 225--229. Myers, D. G. (2009). Personality Disorders and the Bible. mindful of grace , 1-4. Pull, C. (2014). Personality disorders in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5: back to the past or back to the future?. Current Opinion In Psychiatry, 27(1), 84--86. Ripoll, L., Zaki, J., Perez-Rodriguez, M., Snyder, R., Strike, K., & Boussi, A. et al. (2013). Empathic accuracy and cognition in schizotypal personality disorder. Psychiatry Research, 210(1), 232--241. Ryan, A., Macdonald, A., & Walker, E. (2013). The Treatment of Adolescents With Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Related Conditions: A Practice-Oriented Review of the Literature. Clinical Psychology: Science And Practice, 20(4), 408--424. Read More