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Schizoid Personality Disorder Treatment

At Visions Treatment Centers, we work with specialists and therapists to find different teen schizoid personality disorder treatment modalities to effectively and meet patients’ unique recovery needs. Schizoid personality disorder refers to a pattern of detachment from others, and a distinct difficulty expressing emotions. Teens with schizoid personality disorder may be incredibly introverted, and generally avoid intimacy or close relationships of any kind. They are very hard to provoke and have a hard time expressing their emotions.

The term “schizoid” refers to the Greek for a split or cleft, as in schism, and signifies how someone can be emotionally split from everyone else. Schizoid personality disorder is separate from schizophrenia (which frequently includes episodes of psychosis), and schizotypal personality disorder (a personality disorder characterized by “eccentric” behavior and thought, often in those related to schizophrenia patients).

There is a difference between having trouble expressing emotions and having a limited emotional scope. Teens with schizoid personality disorder still experience loss, anger, love, sadness, and joy. But they do not particularly respond to confrontation and can seem rather distant or cold. They have a hard time expressing gratitude or showing others how much they care (or whether they care at all). Because of this, they struggle with social interaction and forming relationships, platonic or otherwise.

Teen Schizoid Personality Disorder Symptoms

Some teenagers like to be left alone. It’s quite normal to gravitate more towards examples of introverted or extroverted behavior as we age – generally, most people are neither strictly one or the other, but prefer either fewer or more social interaction. Nevertheless, teens diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder are on an extreme level of introversion. Some of the symptoms of schizoid personality disorder include:

  • Little to no interest in romantic relationships (for older teens)
  • Doesn’t enjoy social activities
  • Always prefers to spend time alone
  • Cares little about praise or criticism
  • Difficulty expressing emotions
  • No real close, loyal friends peers

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While schizoid personality disorder is a distinctly separate diagnosis from schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia, teens with schizoid personality disorder may rarely experience hallucinations. While their behavior may be similar (isolating and preferring to be alone), teens with schizoid personality disorder are typically always lucid and clearly aware of what’s going on around them.

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    Treating Schizoid Personality Disorder at Visions

    Teen schizoid personality disorder treatment can be challenging. Adolescents rarely seek to be treated, and rarely wish to develop a working relationship with their therapist. While one-on-one therapy can work, some teens might feel it is too pressuring or intimidating to get personal with a professional. They may make more progress through group therapy aimed at helping them slowly open to others in the context of a hobby or academic pursuit (i.e. a study group).

    There is no teen schizoid personality disorder treatment-specific medication. If teens are found to struggle with symptoms indicative of other issues, medication might help (such as antidepressants for depressive symptoms) – but most of the focus will be on different forms of therapy to cater to a teen’s individual schizoid personality disorder treatment needs.

    Group Therapy

    When one-on-one therapy is ineffective or not getting through, group therapy may help teens with schizoid personality disorder pick up on and adopt social skills necessary to better function in everyday life. Teens with schizoid personality disorder are more likely to struggle with anxiety or depression than the average teen, so finding ways for them to learn how to interact with others and be more flexible can help a lot.

    Individual Therapy

    For teens where individual therapy is effective, learning how to interact and develop a working relationship with a therapist can translate into better interpersonal skills with others, and the development of important coping mechanisms to minimize the negative symptoms of schizoid personality disorder.

    Long-term psychotherapy may not be helpful in teen schizoid personality disorder treatment. Teens with schizoid personality disorder symptoms may exhibit strange or harmful behavior, and schizoid personality disorder treatment is better focused on setting specific goals to target harmful behavior, as well as introducing basic social skills to help them integrate into normal living.

    At Visions Treatment Centers, we use a thorough assessment process to better understand a teen’s needs and figure out the best way to help them cope with their diagnosis and live a fulfilling life without unneeded discrimination for their habits, or symptoms of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as a result of their disorder.