Schizotypal Personality Disorder Treatment

Effective schizotypal personality disorder treatment is difficult, since people with the disorder rarely seek or want help. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, talk therapy represents a very important treatment approach for people with schizotypal personality disorder. Treatment focuses on helping individuals learn new social skills and how to cope in a variety of social settings. Although the FDA hasn't specifically approved any schizotypal personality disorder medications, doctors and therapists will recommend certain drugs as part of a multi-pronged treatment strategy.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder Treatment

Mental health experts typically start with psychotherapy as a primary approach in schizotypal personality disorder treatment. Depending on the individual, therapists may use a number of different types of psychotherapy, but typically psychodynamic and behavioral therapies have the most potential to help deal with symptoms of schizotypal personality disorder.

Psychodynamic therapy has a primary focus of revealing the unconscious thoughts embedded within a client's mind. The goal is to diminish psychic tension; it's a little like psychoanalysis in this way.

Another approach to treatment of schizotypal personality disorder involves using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to adjust the distorted thought patterns associated with the disorder. This can give the client a set of coping skills to alleviate tension and anxiety in social situations.

Talk therapy techniques can be used within both of these client-centered schizotypal personality disorder therapy approaches. This method involves coaxing a client into discussing his or her problems, inner experiences, and other behavioral influences with a therapist.

If there are co-occurring conditions along with the personality disorder, the mental healthcare provider will need to treat them as well. Some conditions that may occur along with schizotypal personality disorder include depression, substance abuse (alcohol, drugs), and other personality disorders. While medications cannot cure this or other personality disorders, they may effectively address these accompanying illnesses and the more troubling symptoms, such as paranoia and magical thinking.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder Prognosis

Schizotypal personality disorder prognosis varies depending on the severity of the condition and the commitment the individual has toward treatment. Like many mental illnesses, this disorder represents a chronic condition that will require lifelong attention and treatment.

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