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Personality disorder - schizoid
People with this disorder rarely seek treatment, and little is known about which treatments work. Talk therapy may not be effective, because people with schizoid personality disorder have difficulty relating well to others.
However, one approach that appears to help is to put fewer demands for emotional closeness or intimacy on the person with this condition.
People with schizoid personality disorder often do better in relationships that do not focus on emotional closeness. They are better at handling relationships that focus only on recreation, work, or intellectual activities and expectations.
Schizoid personality disorder is a long-term (chronic) illness that usually dos not improve much over time. Social isolation often prevents the person from seeking the help or support that might improve the outcome.
Limiting emotional intimacy may help people with this condition make and keep connections with other people.
Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psyhchiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 39.
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