Apr 160:56

Trouble de la personnalité : schizoïde

Society No Comments »

Un bon post pour les francophones:

Le trouble de la personnalité schizoïde est un trouble de la personnalité grave.

Cette personne vit seule sans ressentir les conséquences de sa solitude. Elle ne manifeste aucun interêt pour les relations sociales. Elle n’est pas touchée par les marques de sympathie ou d’affection et n’exprime quasiment jamais ses émotions. Ses loisirs sont solitaires et son activité professionnelle est souvent indépendante

La personne schizoide, chez qui donc règne la peur inconsciente d’être présent et d’avoir à s’investir dans le monde concret, peut manifester des symptômes divers :

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Feb 1515:34

Why me?

Inner thoughts No Comments »

If you have read the article about the causes of SPD, you might remember I promised to dig a little more in details about my case. If you did not read it, I suggest you do it now: http://schizoid-personality.110mb.com/inner-thoughts/we-know-the-effects-but-what-are-the-causes/

On the genetics front:

My dad was definitively an introvert. I clearly remember him enjoying working in is wood shop, all alone (he re-made both apartments we lived in, integrating furniture, closets, putting separations and such). When he was not in his shop, he was reading, and after the death of his parents, he was in their home (40km outside the city) all week-ends, gardening and doing handy work by himself.
I remember him murmuring to himself, stopping when he sensed another presence in the same room. He also had some body language (eyebrow rising, slight shrouding…) completely off topic with what was happening around him (especially around the dinner table), and I know now those were responses to his own train of thoughts since I happen to do the same from time to time ;-)

So introvert he was, for sure, but I miss more details to be able to know if he was “just” introvert or had fully developed a “disorder”. For example, he had always some socialisation with his coworkers (though usually to have some drinks after work). I’ve never seen him trying to dodge a family reunion (like I always do…) in fact we were at my grandparents once a week, rotating between paternal and maternal side for a long time. He was at ease with big reunions like weddings, birthdays, etc… Chatting and joking.

On my mom side I cannot see anything genetically tied to introversion or such. (and it seems I dodged the respiratory issues).

So yes if genetics are a defining factor (still not proven yet), then I have some assets in there.

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Feb 0311:37

We know the effects, but what are the causes?

Inner thoughts 2 Comments »

Well, again there is no definite answer to that question, and not just because I tend not to deal in absolutes, but simply because it’s still not known what are/is the cause(s) for the schizoid personality disorder. There are only theories, and no founded research is available, only speculation at this time. So before I draw my own conclusions, let’s see what those theories are.

Two schools come into play (surprisingly enough the old duality nature vs. nurture):

Biology / genetic factors:

Chromosomal or nervous system disorders might be a cause. In 1997 researches on the dopamine D2 receptor and dopamine DAT1 transporter gene supported a strong relationship with those important elements of the brain reward mechanisms and the schizoid and avoidant personality disorders.

Some studies seem to show a risk factor in families with history of parents having any of the disorders on the schizophrenic spectrum (one may argue, being educated by such a parent could very well be the cause and not just genetics…)

Educational / Environmental factors:

Some mental health professionals speculate that a bleak childhood where warmth and emotion were absent, histories of grossly inadequate, cold, or neglectful early parenting are contributing factors to developing SPD. (Overprotective mother / detached father).

Traumas in one’s life, in early childhood or adolescence, and family dysfunction may also precipitate the onset of social isolation and fear of social interaction. And it is then reasonable to assume that the schizoid personality disorder is clearly a protective mechanism to protect oneself and one’s ego from being hurt or damaged.

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Jan 240:18

The other personality disorders

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recycle.pngNote from the author: Instead of detailing all the personality disorders, I opted to make an exert of them. If you are interested in having more details, I did link each disorder to its Wikipedia definition.

There are 10 personality disorders medically recognized (There is more personality “Types” and “character” disorders) and they are split into three categories. From reference to the SDP, I will put in RED the symptoms NOT associated to SDP (others could be seen or otherwise mislabeled like being SPD traits due to the introvert/odd/not social aspect of SPD, but the RED ones are exclusives).



The cluster A (odd, eccentric) personality disorders:

Personality Disorder Signs and symptoms may include

Paranoid personality disorder

A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
  • Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her.
  • Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates.
  • Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her.§  Reads hidden demeaning or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events.
  • Persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights.
  • Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack.
  • Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.

Schizoid personality disorder

a pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
  • Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family.
  • Almost always chooses solitary activities.
  • Has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences with another person.
  • Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities.
  • Lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.
  • Appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others.
  • Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affectivity.
  • Fantasizing / Fixation on own thoughts and feelings

Schizotypal personality disorder

A pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits marked by acute discomfort with, and reduced capacity for, close relationships as well as by cognitive or perceptual distortions and eccentricities of behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
  • Ideas of reference (excluding delusions of reference).
  • Odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences behavior and is inconsistent with subcultural norms (e.g., superstitiousness, belief in clairvoyance, telepathy, or “sixth sense”; in children and adolescents, bizarre fantasies or preoccupations).
  • Unusual perceptual experiences, including bodily illusions.
  • Odd thinking and speech (e.g., vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, overelaborate, or stereotyped).
  • Suspiciousness or paranoid ideation.
  • Inappropriate or constricted affect.
  • Behavior or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar.
  • Lack of close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.
  • Excessive social anxiety that does not diminish with familiarity and tends to be associated with paranoid fears rather than negative judgments about self.



The cluster B (dramatic, emotional) personality disorders

Personality Disorder Signs and symptoms may include

Histrionic personality disorder

a pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
  • Is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention.
  • Interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate sexually seductive or provocative behavior.
  • Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions.
  • Consistently uses physical appearance to draw attention to self.
  • Has a style of speech that is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail.
  • Shows self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated expression of emotion.
  • Is suggestible, i.e., easily influenced by others or circumstances.
  • Considers relationships to be more intimate than they actually are.

Narcissistic personality disorder

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
  • Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
  • Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
  • Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
  • Requires excessive admiration.
  • Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
  • Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
  • Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
  • Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
  • Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.

Antisocial (formerly, sociopathic) personality disorder

This disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of a disregard for other people’s rights, often crossing the line and violating those rights. This pattern of behavior has occurred since age 15 (although only adults 18 years or older can be diagnosed with this disorder) and consists by the presence of the majority of these symptoms:
  • Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
  • Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
  • Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
  • Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
  • Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.
  • Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
  • Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.

Borderline personality disorder

A person who suffers from this disorder has labile interpersonal relationships characterized by instability. This pattern of interacting with others has persisted for years and is usually closely related to the person’s self-image and early social interactions. The pattern is present in a variety of settings (e.g., not just at work or home) and often is accompanied by a similar lability (fluctuating back and forth, sometimes in a quick manner) in a person’s affect, or feelings. Relationships and the person’s affect may often be characterized as being shallow. A person with this disorder may also exhibit impulsive behaviors and exhibit a majority of the following symptoms:
  • Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.
  • A pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
  • Identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
  • Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).
  • Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior.
  • Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
  • Chronic feelings of emptiness.
  • Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).
  • Transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms.



The cluster C(anxious, fearful) personality disorders:

Personality Disorder Signs and symptoms may include

Avoidant personality disorder

This disorder is characterized by a long-standing and complex pattern of feelings of inadequacy, extreme sensitivity to what other people think about them, and social inhibition. It typically manifests itself by early adulthood and includes a majority of the following symptoms:
  • Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
  • Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked.
  • Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed.
  • Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations.
  • Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy.
  • Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others.
  • Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing.

Dependent personality disorder

a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
  • Has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.
  • Needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life.
  • Has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval.
  • Has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy).
  • Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant.
  • Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself.
  • Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends.
  • Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

a pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense or flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:
  • Is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.
  • Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because his or her own overly strict standards are not met).
  • Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity).
  • Is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification).
  • Is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value.
  • Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly his or her way or doing things.
  • Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes.Shows rigidity and stubbornness.

Attention: Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is not the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety disorder that shares some symptoms but is more extreme and disabling.

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Jan 2323:30

Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD)

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Puzzling mindNote from the author: For more clarity I will leave this section “dry” as these are factual information fetched over the Net and in several publications, the need to comment on it is great but I shall do it in another section and/or a blog entry to avoid confusion.

The Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, a tendency towards a solitary lifestyle, secretiveness, and emotional coldness. SPD is reasonably rare compared with other personality disorders. Its prevalence is estimated at less than 1% of the general population (1993).

There are two main diagnostics criteria commonly used by psychologists to identify SPD: the ICD-10 (From the World Health Organization) and the DSM-IV-TR (a worldwide manual used by analysts to diagnose mental disorders). The later seems to be the more commonly accepted as the “standard” worldwide.

According to the ICD-10, schizoid personality disorder is characterized by at least four of the following criteria:

ICD-10 criteria
Emotional coldness, detachment or reduced affection.
Limited capacity to express either positive or negative emotions towards others.
Consistent preference for solitary activities.
Very few (if any) close friends or relationships, and a lack of desire for such.
Indifference to either praise or criticism.
Taking pleasure in few, if any, activities.
Indifference to social norms and conventions.
Preoccupation with fantasy and introspection.
Lack of desire for sexual experiences with another person.

 

 
The DSM-IV-TR, defines schizoid personality disorder as:

A. A pervasive pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

DSM-IV-TR criteria
almost always chooses solitary activities
has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences with another person
neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family
takes pleasure in few, if any, activities
lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives
appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others
shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affectivity

B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a mood disorder with psychotic features, another psychotic disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition.

Note: DSM-IV, which is an earlier version of DSM-IV-TR, does say that a person with Schizoid Personality Disorder may feel sensitive to the opinions of others and may even feel lonely but cannot do anything about the loneliness due to the disorder.

If you want to dig deeper than those mere definitions, you can start with Wikipedia, and you can stick with this site, for real life insights.

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Jan 2311:04

About the site

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.pngThe site is mainly a Weblog (Blog to go trendy) to open a window into my life as a schizoid. Sure there is some info on the Schizoid Personality “Disorder” and even more broadly on common personality “disorders” often related, associated with or mixed-up with SPD, so mostly introvert “disorders” as you will learn in the proper Personality Disorders section. But the site does not intent to be a reference of any kind. The field of Psychiatry is but mostly untouched by humans, we will probably visit space before having a full understanding of our minds, so being a reference is out of the question, it’s just changing too fast for once, and it is far to incomplete and immature a science to even pretend being able to have some kind of reference material. Nor by me, nor by anyone reasonable.

All this site is offering is but ONE view, a very personal and private view behind the wheel of what it is to be considered “disordered” by the society. And I encourage anyone serious enough to look for more material, other sources and testimony to build their own opinion. Mine is biased of course, but it will give you a chance to get the point of view from the inside, instead of studying something from the outside with material produced by mere spectators themselves.
You can go see the movie in any theatre you like, what this site will do is show you the “behind the scene”, the “making of”, the actor point of view…

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Jan 2310:56

About the author

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BudEvidently the most related thing about the author is that he is schizoid. But that does not define me as a whole. Believe it or not being schizoid is just a part of who I am. I am not arguing that it is a very important part and that a lot is rooted by that, but all schizoids are not the same and it will be very restrictive to think that because some people share a common cell in a table printed in some shrink books, that they will all have the same personality… Particularly in the case of schizoids, for whom uniqueness is of the essence.

So that you better understand the blog and my thoughts it is of importance that you understand what the Schizoid Personality “Disorder” (SPD) is. Only then will you comprehend my specificities. Like the fact that I am married, very rare for schizoids, especially male ones. And not just married, but being with my special someone for now over 14 years (hands up for her being able to endure my lack of emotions) take that you “cannot sustain a close relationship for long period of time” shrink definition, I guess you did not think that it takes two people to have a relationship, and I found the one that can sustain it. :-P

Of course being schizoid for as long as I have been (well really since always probably, thought you cannot be diagnosed a schizoid until after the end of childhood, when your psyche is suppose to be conform to the society standards) comes with other personality traits. Without being full blown “disorders”, my being schizoid comes with a side of Shizotypal, Anti-social, and Obsessive-Compulsive behaviours.

Paranoid || 10%
Schizoid ||||||||||||||||||||||| 92%
Schizotypal |||||||||||| 46%
Antisocial |||||||||| 34%
Borderline |||| 18%
Histrionic || 10%
Narcissistic |||| 14%
Avoidant |||||| 22%
Dependent || 10%
Obsessive-Compulsive |||||| 26%

I am really not one to put people into tables, but I have to admit this one is pretty accurate. I guess it will be the object of a post to explain it fully. (added post here: “I have to admit“)

Yet again I am more than just the sum of those personalities. For example I am French AND Canadian (do not understand “French Canadian”). Having dual citizenship is merely relevant, but actually having lived into two different societies (and different they are, even if both occidental) is the kind of experience shaping a mind differently.

Take also into account that I have a daughter born (September, 2000) and raised in Canada (Ontario).

The ethnicity, age and sex are also important factors; I am Caucasian and born in December, 1970 near Paris (France). As for the sex, well you should already have understood by now that I am a male.

Finally: I did some things that might not seem very schizoid of me at first glance (being a journalist or a trainer or working in a shared office). Especially if you are looking for some kind of an archetype of schizoid. Know that I do not have Avoidant Personality (often associated with Schizoid Personality) which makes a big difference, and as always, I truly believe that life experience is full of surprises, it brought me in those places, which I hated, but I survived it. Plus, over the years I mastered a few neat tricks, I have my ways around people.

I don’t think the work you do define who you are, quite the opposite actually. Currently, I am a System Engineer (a geek that so happened to be able to do geeky things for a living).

Name is irrelevant (see if I care about prenominology) but I guess you might think it’s nice to know each other, of course I don’t, but hey, I can abbey by your rules… Name’s “Jack” or “Jacques” if you prefer the French touch.

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