Schizoid Personality Disorder Treatment

Treatment for schizoid personality disorder is challenging because people with the disorder rarely seek or want treatment. Because of this, not much is known about which schizoid personality disorder treatments are effective. Talk therapy isn't likely to work because individuals with schizoid personality disorder may not be able to develop a working relationship with the therapist. Typically, any therapy approach accepted by a schizoid individual will be short-term for helping him or her resolve an immediate crisis (probably stemming from schizoid personality disorder symptoms). The schizoid patient often ends the therapy shortly after crisis resolution.

Schizoid Personality Disorder Treatment – Possible Approaches

One approach to schizoid personality disorder treatment involves reducing demands for emotional closeness on the individual. People with this condition function better in relationships where intimacy or emotional closeness is not a priority. They have greater success in coping with interpersonal interactions that focus on work or more intellectual pursuits.

In the event that the individual accepts treatment for schizoid personality disorder and is committed to the requirements, more traditional approaches may be effective. These approaches include psychotherapy, medications, and self-help. Whichever therapy approach is used, the goal is typically brief, solution-based, and not relationship-centric.

Schizoid Personality Disorder Therapy

Schizoid personality disorder therapy may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of psychotherapy that may help people with the condition cope with and adjust their distorted thought patterns. The CBT approach is usually short-term with a goal of helping the individual develop authentic friendships and interpersonal bonds. If the individual stays in therapy long enough for a client-therapist relationship to develop, the client may begin to reveal more about his inner experiences and distorted thought patterns that cause issues.

Although it shouldn't be used initially, group therapy represents another potentially effective approach to schizoid personality disorder treatment. Once the therapist has established a basic one-on-one working relationship with the client, the therapist can introduce group therapy. The schizoid may balk at first, but with the trusted therapist leading the group, he or she may gradually begin to participate and feel safe enough to socially interact in a safe and supportive setting.

There are no schizoid personality disorder medications available, specifically labeled for treatment of the condition. However, schizoids frequently suffer from depression, in which case the doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medication.

Schizoid Personality Disorder Prognosis

The condition is life-long as there is no cure, making schizoid personality disorder prognosis bleak. Since most sufferers do not seek or want help, due to their preference for social isolation, the disorder does not typically improve as they age.

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