Case Study: Schizoid Personality Disorder | Cluster A Personality Pathology

[@adrianaslund8605]

Its good how they changed "little or no interest in sex" to "little or no interest in sex *with* *others* " There's a huge difference.

[@wil3117]

Hah

[@wil3117]

What do you mean

[@redstoner76]

@@wil3117Masturbation

[@themindbenderr]

​@@wil3117I guess it means that they can enjoy masturbation but intimacy with a real human being is something different for them. I read that schizoid people like to spend time in their imagination cuz they feel free and safe in there. Maybe the same applies for sexual fantasies (while masturbating) too.

[@ghenulo]

@@themindbenderr Well, I never had sexual fantasies while masturbating. I suppose my imagination just isn't that good. Of course, I've been avoiding masturbation for the last few decades, as I had been around people more and perceived how disgusting they find me, thus I came to realize that I should find myself disgusting too and never touch myself. When I was in my teens and early twenties, at home all the time (home schooled from grade 5 and on, and then just stayed inside for several years thereafter), I did it regularly, but in my mid-20s, when I went to college, that all changed.

[@mgal6234]

Dr. G...I was just on a random, unrelated KZbin channel about addiction and saw someone in the comments say, “no, I am not a psychologist, but I DO watch Dr. Grande on KZbin!” I loved that, and you deserve the shout-out! 😃

[@t.l.1610]

😂😂😂OMG that’s great!!! I’m stealing that one!

[@mgal6234]

Tara G. Right?! 😁

[@petepeter1857]

Y'all won't believe this, but that was my post, lol. It was on the Soft White Underbelly channel. Check that one out, btw, excellent work, raw but fascinating.

[@mgal6234]

Pete Peter I can confirm that! Your comment made me chuckle and I immediately came here to post about it! 😜

[@petepeter1857]

@@mgal6234 Ain't KZbin swell, tee hee 😃✌

[@talesfromthebutchside5613]

I have schizoid personally disorder. I found this case study fascinating. The point about Bruce wanting a relationship...I want a relationship too. I actually think a lot of us do, but for me at least, the effort it takes and the intrusion into my personal life just isn't worth it. So when I say I prefer to be alone, I mean it's just easier. To all the youtube therapists out there, please don't try to "fix" my outlook on this. There is absolutely nothing you can say in a comment section that is going to cause me to have some amazing revelation about my condition. Thank you.

[@Imhereforfun-jz2lu]

Well get a job from home. Use doordash and get a girl or guy online. You know there's a relationship out there for everyone

[@fuckugplus]

i think its is more of a fantasie , that in real life we cannot relate to their emotion

[@megdalenagonzalez-mounce1776]

I don't want you to have any revalations, but did want to suggest (not as a youtube therapist but an autistic person who struggles to find partners), have you considered online dating? I enjoy two long-distance relationships that work really well because they don't interfere with my life at all, we only see each other on video chat once a week or less, and still it is a nice connection and support system to have. It's much less intrusive than in-person dating but can still be very meaningful. Sometimes we even send gifts via amazon and such, but if that would be too much effort, you don't have to. I'm very honest about my autism and they appreicate me regardless. Either way. Just a thought.

[@manuag3886]

Schizoid content is particularly interesting

[@kylenki]

Hard to find. Think I meet the criteria. Due to the social nature of the world, I am forced into certain situations that, had I my own way, I would avoid. The only real exception I have to any of the criteria is a that I love my family very much, and have always had one close friend. Even though I am rarely in contact with my family or friend, they understand that even if I say little, that I cherish them deeply--especially for the fact that they don't hold my overwhelming propensity to be solitary against me. I have learned to fake it. People who only know me through work would say that I am a little reserved, maybe an introvert, but none would guess that merely being in the presence of others is exhausting. I do not want to hurt peoples' feelings, so I take care to hold back from near-total isolation, making planned visits to avoid the larger problem of confrontation or employment loss because of the way I am. If anyone needs to send someone to Mars for a solo mission, send a schizoid. They'll be just fine.

[@ETAFan]

It may be interesting but it is hell to live with.

[@megachef0421]

@@ETAFan And you would know?

[@tmstani23]

@@kylenki I resonated with your second paragraph immensely and much of what you said is similar to my own experience.

[@shotarodeniet3301]

@Nice not if you are anxious, and read others behaviour towards you incorrectly. Among other reasons. Your glorified comment sounds extremely narcissistic, and either way some of us aren't able to use the 'search engine', and therapy can help greatly.

[@incognito6625]

To me it sounds like schiziods are perfectly happy doing their thing at their own speed. Ofc the outside world will come with judgements about them being alone and content so I can imagine there being a lot of work related problems. Doing "your own thing" may involve rule and norm breaking that isn't accepted by an employer. To the untrained eye, someone who just reads the pages in the DSM, they might confuse this with some kind of narc/psycho/antisocial, but the huge difference is that schizoids don't want attention and don't feel comfortable in crowds. When writing this, could Mr Grande please elaborate on schizoid vs high functioning autism? They seem kind of similar, I realise now.

[@yeetyeetyeet1967]

He already did

[@johnshannon9656]

As a schizoid, I can say you are spot on.

[@SB-jq8jj]

For starters isn’t autism a mental disorder and schizoid... a personality disorder?

[@toneyfox6328]

No it’s about not having the ability to communicate, u lack self awareness, delusional, can’t take criticism I’d say that’s a lot to deal with along with lack of accountability! This can become an issue for relationships n employers hun

[@7C_J_7]

The difference, I believe, is mainly the hallucinations. I thought I had high-functioning autism until I realized that a friend that actually had high-functioning autism didn't have many positive symptoms. This is fully speculative tho and should be taken with a grain of salt

[@mikebaker2436]

Respected authorities can put alot of pressure on Schizoids to act outside if their nature (career choice, relationships, etc). A schizoid may be taking a path of least resistence by seeking the relationship of least intrusion when solitude is not a choice. When you waffle between several majors, pick one seemingly at random, and then go back for another...... these are not pleasurable interests. That is often a dartboard attempt to pick anything without liking any options. Religious Schizoids have faith systems that often see rejection of community as simultaneously sinful or enlightened depending on who you ask. Eastern thought with its monastic idealism and detachment is very consistent. Practicalities of modern life and difficulty actually living alone can lead to pragmatic alliances (especially when no living relatives are there to help during financial difficulty or in emergencies). These kind of features can create a muddled picture of Schizoids because it is often that Schizoids act half-heartedly against their nature to preserve their self interest or make an intrusive party or organization placated and go away.

[@juliasm3443]

You are totally right about the studies. He enjoyed the subject so much he skipped a semester, LOL. Also the fact that his religious community brought him in for the treatment seems like he did have some social pressure on him, and we don't know if he had chosen to participate in that group or there hadn't been a choice and he did the best he could to coexist with them. It doesn't seem like he was invested into these sessions at all, so I would take his own accounts with a grain of salt.

[@mikebaker2436]

As a Schizoid, this kind of annoys me about the pragmatic bias that accompanies research and training on the disorder... on paper, Schizoid often look Avoidant or Borderline.... but it isn't their behaviors or actions that make them Schizoid. It is WHY they make the choices they do. People are more than their disorders. There is often this confusion between Avoidant and Schizoid when there is an over-reliance on DSM criteria instead of the client motivations... often from 2 understandable errors: 1. An under-appreciation of comorbidity (Example: I have PTSD and act very unschizoid when I am triggered.) 2. A lack of documentation of compromises that a person makes contrary to their nature because the alternative is worse or they have a higher ideal that overrides their instinct.

[@joeminella5315]

Your first and last paragraphs: I believe one could substitute some other PD's for "Schizoid" here.

[@greylight5]

I've had exactly this experience as a schizoid in educational and religious life. It was decided for me by family that I would go to college, but I had no interests and waffled between several majors before choosing art, then dropping out after a semester. In religious life I joined a very controlling group where community and closeness were central. This would seem to be very inconsistent with my schizoid nature, but I felt the pressure from the world that the way I lived was wrong and undesirable. I thought maybe forcing myself into a situation where I was required to act in ways contrary to my solitary and relaxed nature would "improve" me. The same thing happened with the one romantic relationship I've been in. I think the key is to look at the way these "inconsistent" life experiences affected the schizoid's mental health and sense of well being. Every time I tried to force myself to be something other than I am, often under pressure from others, my mental health deteriorated rapidly into suicidal and even psychotic depression. When I was able to craft a quiet and distant life away from these outside pressures, my overall health and well being improved dramatically. I even began to enjoy a limited number of activities, which I'd never experienced before.

[@benjaminkok1945]

Idk why but that was so hard to understand

[@kennypham3856]

Lack of personal hygiene could be a sign of severe depression too.

[@wecanlovelarevolutiondelam4806]

Did he said it is a sign of schizoid disorder ?

[@elies8084]

This is usually more associated with schizophrenia and schizotypal, I think. Since self-sufficiency is so important, good hygiene is likely a part of that (better hygiene, less need to rely on medical community). Schizoids are unusually counterdependent (except when they collapse like in an intimate relationship)

[@Imhereforfun-jz2lu]

It's also a sign of being a dirty smelly pig. I shower once a year and rarely forget. A high standard of hygiene like mine is important. Like I'd never wear the same underwear for over 10 weeks. I'm a bit of a clean freak though.

[@Imhereforfun-jz2lu]

It's stinkoid PD.

[@claycheatham4246]

Dr Grande; you said at the beginning of the video that Bruce's emotionality was unusual given his diagnosis as a schizoid. This isn't true. Schizoid tend to have the unemotional wall and display little affect, but they are also very sensitive. Youd never think so, and I can see why you'd believe that. Otherwise, thanks for the illuminating video.

[@dougieboy28]

very good point. The huge wall/barrier that blocks out people can mislead others to think that we have no feeling. On the contrary, we feel more than most.

[@Imhereforfun-jz2lu]

Hmmm yah so just like a little weird.

[@markg6758]

Individuals who are "loners" may display personality traits that might be considered schizoid. Only when these traits are inflexible and maladaptive and cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress do they constitute schizoid personality disorder. DSM-5 Differential Diagnosis

[@lukealadeen7836]

Do you have to have all the symptoms? I think I might have this but I still like sex

[@jennifersalzwedel5126]

I like the new glasses, Dr. Grande.

[@isthisagoodyoutubehandle]

Crazy how I've been in therapy for almost a year with my primary complaint being that I feel like I'm incapable of positive emotion but can still feel all the negative ones just as intensely as always and this diagnosis never once came up. Just for context, this headspace is very new to me. I feel like I was almost a different person for the first 28 years of my life. But after an incredibly traumatic year and a half of losing loved ones, being forced to move, covid happening, my partner of 4 years leaving and eventually ghosting me with seemingly no real indication of any issues beforehand, becoming an alcoholic, getting sober, I feel like I've arrived at a stable point and I'm trying to get better. In my therapy sessions, I also made it a point to mention that I no longer feel i have the patience for other people and get frustrated easily. I've told him that I just kinda want to be left alone and find the least emotional distress when I can control my own environment. I've told him that I don't feel like I enjoy anything anymore and that I have no desire for another relationship or close friendships. The whole time, I thought Schizoid Personality Disorder was one of those that involved paranoid delusions but apparently I was wrong. I find it absurd I've literally described 5 of the 7 criteria to him several times and it's never come onto the table. It wasn't until a few minutes ago on Reddit of all places that someone said something akin to "yeah Schizoid anhedonia is different from typical depression because you can still feel negative emotions" that I decided to look up a video like this. I just wanna go back to who I was before all this and feel anything positive again. I feel like a part of my brain died and what's left just wants to isolate itself and slowly rot away alone. It's miserable. I have no idea if this diagnosis is truly "correct" in my case, but this has at least opened up some new avenues of research and introspection that will hopefully give me more tools to figure out how to get my brain back to normal. Here's hoping that's possible 😅

[@alexmeyer2058]

The video does a great job accurately describing the DSM version of SPD. Unfortunatly, the DSM has done a bad job describing SPD.

[@charlieliverbk]

Please discuss Secret Schizoids (or Covert Schizoids). This subset is rarely discussed because they appear better adjusted that standard Schizoids but I'd argue it's the opposit.

[@ernstthalmann4306]

My father is a psychiatrist. This is excellent analysis. Keep up the good work Dr.!

[@BetaBuxDelux]

What does your dad think?

[@ernstthalmann4306]

@@BetaBuxDelux I have a schizoid friend. My dad doesn't know how to help him anymore 😔 😪 😢 😞 he was trained at Yale so he knows his stuff but personality disorders are brutal to treat.

[@Imhereforfun-jz2lu]

One up. My dad calls himself psycho the rapist. But I think he means psychotherapist.

[@ernstthalmann4306]

@@Imhereforfun-jz2lu sounds like a fun guy 👦 🤣 😄 😂 😀 🙄 👦

[@ernstthalmann4306]

@BetaBuxDelux my grandma was schizoid. She died 3 years ago at 89. So this video affects me a lot.

[@HuGANityNsanity]

To the Deep Mind creative team responsible for this channel. You're putting out excellent information. Thank you.

[@hanahledikova3305]

It would be really intersting to see a video on whether someone with schizoid PD can have a successful romantic relationship, and how the flat affect and detachment affects the other person in that relationship.

[@aliebou6492]

Yes please!

[@RippleDrop.]

I guess if the partner is a little odd too it might work...? I'm hoping my relatives would find girlfriends being autistic but super sweet people. Come on girls!

[@tinalyn5752]

It rarely works out because I always felt like the other person wanted me to be someone I'm not and then the whole sex thing comes up and I do not feel pleasure in sex,it is a chore and I feel happier without it. I would say if a relationship was going to work then the other partner would have to be asexual and have a job that keeps them away from home for long periods of time lol.

[@andybarritt8642]

@@tinalyn5752 I know exactly what you mean,never thought I'd see my own thoughts written by someone else,so precisely lol

[@petralous]

@@tinalyn5752 would you like to be in a relationship? Or are you rather alone?

[@pattmayne]

These videos are great. I love the idea of a "dimensional model," so you don't have to put somebody in a clearly-defined box which doesn't really cover all the important symptoms.

[@Concertina43210]

I'm not so sure if a complete lack of desire for relationships is necessarily true of SPD. While undiagnosed, I have long considered myself to either have SPD, or at least meet most, if not all, DSM-V criteria for it. But, I am married. However, my husband also shares a lot of these qualities too and the fact that neither one of us requires a great deal of attention made us highly compatible. We spend most of our time doing things separately. We also do not have friends, simply because neither of us desire social activity. I'm also wary of calling it a "disorder" too, only because I believe something is only a problem if the disorder causes the person distress. It's very different from someone, for example, that desires relationships but is hindered by anxiety. That would be a problem. But if I simply don't desire relationships, and if I'm happily functioning without them, then I'm not sure how this is a problem. Other than the rest of society finding it unusual that I don't have interests which fit into what might be expected of me.

[@Беспроводнойактивныйсабвуфер]

oh thanks, now I know what kind of relationships I want

[@didirobert3657]

Are you both independently wealthy so that you don't have to work? If you both have SPD, I doubt you'd be married and holding a job would be very difficult as well. You sound like a very introverted person, but that doesn't mean that you have Schizoid Personality Disorder.

[@Concertina43210]

@@didirobert3657 My husband doesn't have SPD, just me. He has SPD traits but not the disorder. I've since been diagnosed by a psychiatrist since posting my original comment, but I've known I've had it for a while. I wish I could say it was just introversion but unfortunately it's not. I don't have friends or relationships with family, by choice. I don't enjoy human companionship and live a reclusive lifestyle apart from society. As for work, my husband supports us both on his salary. We're not "rich" but we are financially comfortable so there's no money concerns. I consider myself fortunate in that regard simply because it means I can remain isolated which is what makes me the most comfortable. I have no interest at all in connecting with others, I don't have life goals or aspirations, and yet I'm totally content. Because it's what I choose.

[@mikebaker2436]

At the time of my diagnosis, I scored 7/7 for Schizoid criteria. My Neuroticism score is low like you'd expect. At the same time, I obsess over certain topics in conversation, demonstrate to have thought alot about things I talk about and score OCD levels of obsessive thinking on stuff like IQ tests and intake batteries. Why? I'm not the only Schizoid who is like this. I think what we are seeing is the fact that we just have 10x more time to be alone with our thoughts than everyone else. It's an eccentric trait. ....but that kind of "I've thought alot about this..." kind of situation shouldn't be confused for attachment or consciously experienced pleasure.

[@girlwithacurl984]

maybe co existing ocd?

[@stroopwafel3612]

I don't think it's necessarily 'indifference' that typifies schizoid personality disorder but rather the desire for complete emotional autonomy. For example in relation to sex and intimacy the desire is simply experienced 'as is' without given proper value. A schizoid person would experience them through a separate entity specifically created for this purpose that is disregarded after the fact, keeping their autonomy intact. When the relationship or contact breaks down no loss is experienced since they never really opened up in the first place. This might be interpreted as 'detached', but could just as well be a coping mechanism for intense sensitivity. Either way, most meaning or enjoyment is derived from inner experience rather than tangible pursuits.

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

I bet I’m not the only one who self-diagnoses as having every personality disorder Dr. Grande describes.

[@babblingalong7689]

Sounds like you have hypochondriac personality disorder (HPD)

[@ganymedg.8832]

You are sane if you think you have it all.

[@oldcowbb]

fucking barnum effect

[@conniethingstad1070]

my daughter is in grad school for art therapy. she said they are trying to get away from classifying mental disease and referring to the depth of trauma rather than labeling. i have a psych education too so it made for hours of interesting conversation.

[@sciencebeartimberwoods7610]

Could you expand on what you mean by depth of trauma? What I'm seeing is rather taking the traits instead of the whole personality disorder, e.g. narcissistic traits and unemotional traits rather than antisocial pd.

[@conniethingstad1070]

@@brusselsprout5851 St Mary's of the Woods Terre Haute Art Therapy Grad school.

[@Imhereforfun-jz2lu]

Nonsense in other words

[@mrs.reluctant4095]

I thought about this presentation again and found your statement about the confirmation bias to be particularily interesting. This patient might have appeared odd to his therapist due to social/environmental factors like age gap between therapist and patient, the client belonging to a different social subsystem, religious group or belief system etc. It appears to me (maybe I err) that the problem of this client is not that he has ANY form of personality disorder, but an overall l a c k of personality. And this isn't a rare issue at all nowadays. Thank you for your work, I wish you'd make more of this kind of case study...love it. 💗

[@maskedidentity2498]

To be fair, the diagnostic criteria aren't really useful. People with SPD have a split ego. They can desire love and fear it at the same time. That's called "the schizoid dilemma" hence the criterion wouldn't fit for all. Same goes for extreme introversion. For schizoids, it's about hiding their true self and holding people at a controlable distance. This can be done by being outgoing and talkative in public, too.

[@jodymiller2863]

Indeed. Folks may refer to Guntrip or Nancy McWilliams' work regarding Schizoid Personality. The DSM was developed by and for researchers per external others' "observable" behavior, and this is quite problematic in that the it wholly misses the internal experience/conflict of a personality structure.

[@SoulfulMole]

interesting case, not everyone fits neatly into DSM 5 diagnoses, I can't remember ever having a client who met sufficient criteria for the disorder, but can think of several clients who had some of the features

[@0x52]

Schizoid here. Thank you for this video.

[@yourenough3]

Appreciate the case study videos they're so helpful. Your on fire Dr. G , congrats on the growing subs and viewers. 😁💫

[@gregofthedump]

I'm nearly fifty and have found it so difficult to function generally that, for the past year, I've come to believe I'm probably schizoid, with features of other disorders. I'm hoping for a diagnosis in the next couple of months. Dr Grande, I take it there aren't many case studies of people confirmed as having SPD? If there are any recent ones, I would definitely be interested in a video covering those as well.

[@Kgnsbdj]

i'm diagnosed you can ask, i dont know therapy consequences

[@yeetyeetyeet1967]

Dont self diagnose

[@gregofthedump]

@@yeetyeetyeet1967 I may or may not be schizoid, but by matching my symptoms to the criteria in the literature, it's clear to me that I'm definitely schizoidoid.

[@gregofthedump]

@Margareta Križanić I'm interested in finding out more about his personality profile. I know he was a tyrant,, but I'd like to hear a professional's take. Henry's time on the throne affects my country (UK) to this day.

[@philipmarkedwards]

I was diagnosed as such by a psychiatrist several years ago. Being of Indigenous origin, I later understood the cultural biases of clinicians. I had also undertaken an accounting of myself and had made efforts to resolve my 'detachment' by the time I had seen the psychiatrist. I now consider myself to have been fashioned in a coercive narcissistic culture. I was adopted out in a what is now called 'The Sixties Scoop'. IMO, the cultural dimensions of my 'alienation' should be documented. I have also observed this phenomenon of cultural alienation in a Romanian housemate who had been raised in an ultra orthodox home. He had come to Canada as a child. Eventually he was able to talk about his Romanian origins. Previously, he was unable to admit to it. His diagnosis when I met him was BPD. He has made amazing progress IMO.

[@lythanjones8094]

Thank you for explaining a clear and concise structure for case study work. Your videos are always helpful.

[@BetaBuxDelux]

Damn, Dr. Grande nailed it: features from multiple PDs. Good job, Doc.

[@augmentedsharpee9948]

Dear Dr. Grande, Thank you for all the information you put out, helping in the education of the public on mental health topics. One request of mine would be your input on psychedelics in therapy (psilocybin mushrooms, lsd & ketamine), as the States and Netherlands are in process of (finally) legalizing them for therapeutic use. Keep up the great work! Best regards

[@hup1699]

H. Werner-Sautter I second this idea

[@mrs.reluctant4095]

Yay! Cluster A! Thank you! 💋💋💋

[@zefft.f4010]

For a time, I did think I wanted romantic relationships, but the more I tried the more I realized I don't. I only thought I wanted it because it was expected of me or because I thought it would fill some void inside me. It did not. It took some time for me to come to terms with that, but now I'm at peace with my solitude. The personal hygiene bit is still difficult because I don't really care how I'm perceived and have no desire to be attractive to anyone. When I'm in my more depressive states, I may even see it as a win, because it keeps people at a distance. I'm not in those states as often anymore and I have more experience in how I can deal with them when they do happen - without clinical help, because the medical profession has done nothing but make me feel worse. All they do is sell me drugs and ask me about feelings I don't have. It's like I'm satisfying their professional curiousity rather than receiving any kind of treatment.

[@kathrinjohnson2582]

Hey why are cluster A disorders more common in men then woman, and can you explain how the symptoms look different in men then woman? And if so is schizophrenia mode common in men?

[@camuscat123]

I wonder how various personality structures interact with each other in the psyche of an individual. This presentation inspired a lot of thought regarding how one personality trait impacts another within an individual...how one's surroundings influence this process...

[@Marcelube]

Thank you, Dr Grande for all the knowledge you share.🙌🍀💕😎

[@nakji37100]

Can you make more case studies about cluster A disorders?

[@Danielle-nz9tn]

I believe my father has Schizoid Personality Disorder. I’m curious if there is any literature on the effects of children with parents with this disorder, or Dr. Grande’s analysis of this. Yes, my father ended up getting married and staying married long enough to have 4 children, but that was largely due to pressure from his church (I found out from a family member). He demonstrated cold behavior toward my mother and often toward his children (not in a Narcissistic way, just distant/detached/disinterested). But he wasn’t totally disinterested in his children, more like he didn’t have the skills to show his interest or could not relate to his children on the level of their wants or needs-almost like he didn’t really recognize we had needs besides shelter and food. Instead, the only way he could relate was to talk about his own interests, regardless of how interested his children were in those topics. It was like if we wanted any quality time with our father, we had to do the things he wanted to do-or nothing at all. I think he did hope for a genuine connection around those topics, but he could not change or be flexible enough to show interest in what his children felt passionate about or drawn to. He does also act a bit like a person with high-functioning autism (in the sense that he could hold down a job to support a family, but only jobs that required few social skills). I think the main difference is that people with autism do want relationships vs. people with Schizoid PD who do not. It’s hard to tell how much my father wants relationships because he functions so poorly in them that you wonder if he really just can’t, or if he just won’t be different; even when he is told overtly that a behavior is offensive (i.e. insulting someone’s weight, to their face), he keeps doing it like he doesn’t care. But then he gets teary-eyed when we visit him from out of state and then have to leave, so clearly he cares a little bit? So confusing.

[@tmstani23]

This case study reminds me a lot of myself. I wonder if perhaps the criteria are incorrect for schizoids due to either the schizoid not being able to accurately describe their experience and the therapists who constructed the disorder misinterpreting this. I fit 4/7. The one about sexual relationships is wrong I think schizoids do want sexual relationships and can even be loving they just don't have the emotional depth or ability to express it in a timely way and get frustrated by their lack of ability to express themselves. Also, there is an element of almost narcissistic or grandiose within which can cause them to be deceptive with a therapist or have difficulty opening up. I wonder how much research has been done on schizoids given that they don't generally like talking to therapists? If you're interested in interviewing me some time I'd be open to it.

[@aerodicus]

Bruce is just a normal human trapped in a psychotic society, which is why nature provides relief.

[@Fellixify]

Love these case study videos, very educational!

[@evelynwaugh4053]

If this patient ended up in long term psychiatric care at such a young age ( early 20s?), I wonder if more was going on with him than a PD, or would what appears to be possible symptoms of a PD be the early signs of schizophrenia? That his priest was so concerned about him leads me to think that his (possible) obsession with sin is typical of some of the unusual thoughts/preoccupations of schizophrenia. Unless the priest was just concerned about the suicidal ideas? Off topic: if Mrs. Robinson (The Graduate) could no longer be diagnosed a Neurotic, what modern diagnosis would she receive? Substance Abuse Disorder, Anxiety/Depression?

[@JTucci100]

"Dimensional model". Thanks for introducing this term.

[@JTucci100]

@Random Name Although "dimensional model" may be a term that is finding favour in certain scenarios, that isn't a reason to dismiss it and in the context of personality disorders, where it has quite a specific meaning and applies to levels of a disorder or characteristic rather than use of dichotomy. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_models_of_personality_disorders

[@bobhunt3398]

Always interesting Dr.G. 👍👍👍👍

[@kellyannallen2454]

You truly have the most interesting topics. I’m slowly starting to get it! Thank you Dr.G 😉 Have a great weekend

[@mikebaker2436]

Repeated demotion at work can be an indication of indifference to praise or criticism.

[@henriquekiak]

Grande in portuguese means "big". You are big, doctor! Thank you from Brazil.

[@DJSwezzleMusic]

He also has a big ding-dong

[@joshypoo9d259]

People are complex.

[@squeakel]

I don't know anything about this disorder, so this was really interesting. (Also, nice glasses, Dr. G!)

[@kathrinjohnson2582]

I love these case studies!!! Keep them coming!!! 😃😃😃👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@cgarcia2739]

Dr. Grande can you make a video on Attachment Disorders.

[@conniethingstad1070]

haha I could make a video on this....raised stepson with this but with excellent counseling, he has no trace of an attachment disorder ....but it took finding the right counselors which took years.

[@aaronwalterryse4281]

he recently did a video on attachment issues and personality disorders... just check under videos it's pretty recent

[@conniethingstad1070]

@@aaronwalterryse4281 yeah I watched it as I raised his son who had serious attachment disorder!

[@lindseykeating]

Schizoid has more nuisance than is considered here imo. Such examples of missed traits are object relations, splitting, and case studies from Guntrip and Klein both include married or even extraverted patients so... there’s a lack of depth being considered.

[@watcherwlc53]

surprised he said a high level of openness to experience. would have imagined that would have been low as well with everything else. 2:08

[@johnshannon9656]

It depends upon the type of experience. I'm schizoid and I love human reality - it's bizarre and frightening but also amazing and rewarding - but it's more of an internal, subjective appreciation than any desire to be part of a throng.

[@atomnous]

My big five is: High openness Extremely low extraversion Low conscientiousness Low agreeableness High neuroticism But I can relate to schizoid PD to far extent except I do "feel" persistent negative emotions, but more like obsessively thinking about it without necessarily feeling it esp. recently. I'm just confused about everything that's happening. I can relate very much with the story. The familial background, the existing desire for relationship, but having flat affect. Also have been diagnosed with possible BPD. But I often fantasize of living far away from society. And I do not have close relatives with military background.

[@heibai1173]

My sister’s cat (family cat) died a long time ago, I felt nothing (perhaps some regret for not giving as much love as I should), my grandma died a few years back, felt nothing (twinge of regret for not being with family), and my sister just shot herself 3 days ago and though I have regret for being a terrible sister through childhood and for not being the “warm” person I think she needed me to be, I was pretty much over it the day she died. I cried a little, sure, but I gave myself one day to mourn and even then, I felt hardly nothing. Still nothing. ALWAYS nothing 😑. My nana looked at me like I was some kind of monster. Oh well. (I am Schizoid, by the way. Also an INTJ. I was wondering if there was any correlation?)

[@powerwise234]

I hate your nana.

[@rightnow4450]

I definitely have social anxiety disorder and panic attacks as well as some lingering PTSD from my childhood but I think there may be a mix of some schizoid or narcissistic behaviors in there but I believe I may be in denial about that these are great videos

[@alienlizardqueen8748]

Bruce having clear expectations for his romantic partners suggests that he is viewing his partners as an extension of himself. This is contrary to the Schizoid ‘you do you, I’ll do me’ mantra of detachment. I agree that he likely had mixed features of other personality disorders.

[@rebbouhhind2580]

I didn't get the vibe he's Schizoïde anyway .

[@virginia_plain_coquette]

Could you talk more about what comorbidity looks like between cluster A and cluster B personalities?

[@nicholasmitchell8749]

My wife fits into the paranoid category of this cluster A group. I am currently studying shamanism and soul retrieval techniques to help heal her. Clozaril is great to ensure a good night's sleep but is ineffective on curing her symptoms of negatively oriented audible hallucinations. The ancient hypothesis has always resonated with me, and the recent revival seems to be succeeding where conventional therapy is currently failing. It's kind of like rescuing the soul from the bathwater of superstition, because I intuit superstition has crept into our materialist paradigm.

[@cjzanders5430]

Does having little to no desire for sexual relationships also crossover into Schizotypal personality disorder too?

[@Megumi646]

That's weird. I don't think I ever heard of this before and I took three psychology classes in college. Thanks for the info. I saw this personality disorder in one of your other videos. Guess I'm avoidant after all. I want friends so bad, but I don't want to burden anyone, so I rather avoid people. It's not just social anxiety, I'm on meds, I just feel too inadequate to make friends.

[@kylenki]

Is there much behind the concept of covert/secret schizoids vs overt(paradoxical as that sounds)? Is it like high-function vs low-functioning? I have found it difficult to find well sourced lit. on this subject.

[@mmestari]

@BK Lanyon Yes, covert schizoid is just more high-functioning, and therefore harder to tell, but not that much different.

[@The_Black_Anarchist]

Many psychiatrists don't think that schizoid is an actual disorder because we are well functioning. We can engage with other people but we choose not to.

[@jessicamarie8299]

Yup! I can and have engaged fine with other people but I do not have any interest in doing it.

[@The_Black_Anarchist]

@@c4t-tp238 So anything that you don't like is gay? It sounds straight to me.

[@elisamastromarino7123]

He sounds like a depressed person with a side order of neuroses and a bit of narcissism to me. I dunno! I'm not sure I would ever be able to diagnose. I can't see anything that unusual about him. Is "quirky" a disorder? 😊 Thank you, Dr Grande! 🌹👍

[@walterarchibald1318]

Sounds like a happy life! And, it's about as good as life gets these days!

[@jimmygarcia7250]

I was diagnosed with about 6 or 8 of these personality disorders when I was 18 or so. I'm 27 now, haven't really sought out treatment.

[@babblingalong7689]

I hope you mean traits, otherwise you'd have 6 personality disorders.

[@jimmygarcia7250]

No. Personality disorders.

[@babblingalong7689]

@@jimmygarcia7250 Gosh, better seek some help bruv.

[@jimmygarcia7250]

I think it's pretty hopeless tbh

[@babblingalong7689]

@@jimmygarcia7250 I can see that. However it might be worth the try.

[@sempermutabilibus8300]

Not sure why but that case saddened me.

[@vals74]

It was very sad

[@RippleDrop.]

He seemed to suffer.

[@Bzzzzzzzz535]

I have someone close to me with schizoaffective disorder. Would love to hear you do something about that.

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

High Backbone Me too. My ex-husband was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

[@Bzzzzzzzz535]

Jeanette Waverly it is a heartbreaking disease and my brother is in long term care now and while they try hard they fail to recognize the importance of exercise to help them vent out the pent up angst. The us needs to do a better job for its mentally ill.

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

High Backbone I’m so sorry for you and your brother. The US is a great country in many ways, but it (meaning we, its citizens) have a long way to go when it comes to recognizing and treating mental disorders.

[@jazmin6031]

I am a cocktail of avoidant, borderline and schizotypical pd. A living hell many times. Still I've managed to hide them as most as possible and have a stable work life. What is the best treatment? I've tried CBT but my therapist always went into mindfulness one time afterthe other for 6 months.. honestly I felt it was not deep enought

[@nickpapageorgio4835]

Consider narcissism. I am going off of your first sentence only. Dialectical behavioral therapy is an excellent treatment for BPD and is relatively effective for NPD. Women with NPD are far more likely to seek treatment, if only for mood problems. By the way these are labels and human beings are dynamic, and the next DSM manual for clinicians is likely to dismiss all personality disorders because it is literature and not science, no matter how much merit they really have, it is culture-bound.

[@njb1126]

I have been professionally diagnosed as Schizoid and autism spectrum disorder level 1. I believe I manifest some signs of ADHD too. In my experience I would say I have low openness to experience. I have no desire to go out and really do anything. I think I might like to go to Italy on an archaeological tour as Ancient Rome is a special interest of mine. Aside from that I spend the majority of time alone unless an acquaintance invites me out somewhere. I generally don’t plan things with people and might have a get together once or twice a year.

[@LesliWebandMediaSvcsonYouTube]

Great info! I don't know much about cluster A's

[@aliebou6492]

How can you differenciate someone who is on Autistic spectrum (like "Asperger") and someone with schizoid p.d.?

[@weiirdOzdotFU]

doesn't seem like much difference at all to me, apparently they overlap often. the only difference I've been able to find is schizoids don't show emotions but it's not particularly common for autistic people to do that either? a little confusing, I'm not sure. just seems like the same thing

[@johnshannon9656]

I don't know if this will make sense. I might be proving the point. I've been diagnosed as schizoid. The diagnosis seems correct to me. But, because I've always lived in my own skin and mind, it just seems like it's my personality type. The only adverse effect I can see on my life is less employment opportunities, since I don't network, but it feels normal and comfortable to me. More than anything, it seems like a healthy buffer against the psychic vampirism I experience mostly from extroverts. Maybe I'm sick - the DSM certainly wants to say so - but my life is pretty decent, so what's the issue?

[@Sameoldfitup]

When I was six years old my stepmother left me in a doorway with a note saying not wanted...

[@vexorian]

Can you do another one of these but with a case that actually does seem consitent with SPD?

[@DeIiriurn]

There are two aspects that I as a self-diagnosed schizoid disagree on: asexuality and lack of interest "romantic" relationships are not inconsistent with the disorder. It may be positively correlated features, but I feel a strong need to have a partner and consider my life experience otherwise incomplete. Labeling it in any way as romantic would be aching to sarcasm, but it is genuine and accompanied by a strong sexual interest. I feel little need to hide the fact that is a part of my animal nature that is still in tact there and even less to sugarcoat it.

[@jasonkoch3175]

I was diagnosed schizoid but it was really bad social anxiety really.

[@RippleDrop.]

Why was the person hospitalized? Does that relate to this disorder? Is it typical?

[@garybrisebois2667]

The predominant adaptation of a schizoid is detachment, the predominant affect of a schizoid PD is futility. I am a healed former SPD. Took 30+ years.

[@theblacklotusgaming3767]

How did you overcome this condition?

[@oldcowbb]

what do you need to be healed from

[@thagreatone402]

Good video for my Saturday morning.

[@mrs.reluctant4095]

To all you guys out there with more or less deep relational ambivalences I can recommend the classique book Burnham, D.L., Gladstone, A.I & Gibson, R.W. (1969) "Schizophrenia and the Need-fear Dilemma", International Universities Press, New York. Quite enlightening for people with attachment problems. Don't be too irritated by the term 'schizophrenia' in the title, 1969 the DSM II just came out and at that time this diagnosis in the US emcompassed what we nowadays would call Cluster A personalities, Borderline, Schizoaffective Disorder, parts of the Dark Triad, psychotic depression and our current view of schizophrenia. The world was a bit simpler these days when it comes to diagnosing mental illness... 😉

[@didirobert3657]

How common is it for a person with Autism to also have Schizoid Personality Disorder? The symptoms seem to overlap somewhat.

[@dannyzee4]

How would this PD relate to disocciative disorders? Can they lead to one another or be mistaken for one another?

[@crispy_pringle]

my boyfriend is somewhat convinced he has schizoid personality disorder. he, of course, is insanely resistant to therapy, but has expressed he would be willing to go for my sake and for the sake of our relationship. we’ve been together four years, and i am genuinely the only interpersonal relationship in his life, not even parents, i talk to the people in his circle and initiate plans because he genuinely is loved and people want to see us, but he is just completely uninterested for the most part. being his only companion actually isn’t even as stressful as you’d expect, because he doesn’t require constant check-ins. it can be a challenge, but i find this video incredibly insightful because it gives me a better understanding of what he might be experiencing in his head. i have chronic ptsd, specifically surrounding relationships, where i have an aversion to sex often and i need to distance myself sometimes, which seems to work in tandem with his needs. hes decided seemingly overnight that he wants to pursue his masters degree in another country though, where i can’t follow him. i wish there was more information about this disorder. i’m scared that we won’t be able to thrive in a long distance situation, or at least i wouldnt. sorry for babbling, if anyone is reading thank you for taking the time to

[@ابوالشيطانالذهبيخوارقخفةاليد]

Hi. How are you now?

[@eduardoantonio4286]

Is there such thing as an asexual schizoid? I guess my question is does a sexual orientation like asexuality fall under symptom of schizoid or is it something completely different? Is there any correlation at all? I’m having trouble drawing my question but I hope you can understand what I mean by it and can get an answer!

[@MultiSenhor]

Dr. Grande, what are your thoughts on Elinor Greenberg's "Borderline, Narcissistic, and Schizoid Adaptations: The Pursuit of Love, Admiration, and Safety"?

[@danicarr6625]

Hi Dr Grande, I'm wondering if you think the main character in The Stranger by Albert Camus could be a literary example of this personality disorder. I read the book over a dozen years ago and his atypical personality aways stuck with me.

[@mmestari]

@Dani Carr I have read the book, I didn't think he was schizoid when I read it. He's dating that woman after brief encounter, he has also a friend, and he makes rash actions. Maybe he's more like anti-social.

[@jayce0015]

Can you explain the Low Conscientiousness?

[@TheRedHaze3]

I have Schizoid Personality Disorder and I'm pretty sure I have high neuroticism. I mean, I haven't taken the test, but I have anxiety, so i think that puts me high on neuroticism.

[@LittleSparklingStars]

That sounds like social anxiety disorder. Schizoids aren’t anxious, but indifferent.

[@TheRedHaze3]

@@LittleSparklingStars I do have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but there's nothing that says Schizoids can't be anxious.

[@m.f.richardson1602]

You're probably right😄

[@eeebird]

11:44 I guess you'd have to be exceptionally disagreeable for this to make sense. In fact, that to me seems like almost the defining feature for the disorder (paired with high introversion and aloof, non-earthy behaviour). I love it when things fit so perfectly with these models

[@paulshortall6734]

Openness to experience is a standout feature ?

[@vamonaa]

is it possible to diagnose oneself with SPD?

[@mmestari]

@vamonaa It's possible if you properly understand the criteria, and what's actually meant by them. Of course that self-diagnosis won't be recognized by clinicians.

[@The_Black_Anarchist]

The fact that you're asking means that you are not schzoid. We don't seek validation from other people.

[@thestylesworld]

Thanks for the info. Is it possible if a "Schizoid" person also have some features of " Paranoid" & " Schizotypal" personality disorder (other Cluster A types)?

[@margrg21]

Thank you, Dr. It looks as if the closest match indeed would be OCPD.

[@DS-qw1tp]

Can this develop later on - in your late 20s/30s rather than childhood? My husband used to be ok but now checks all the boxes for this. He was always anti social but he was interested in sex when younger and had friends and went out. That changed later in his 20s. His dad checks all the boxes too and was abusive and emotionally neglectful to my husband. It causes great pain in our marriage and I know for a fact he isn’t cheating. He honestly treats people badly in social settings, has little to no interest in sex or intimacy, and chooses activities to be alone and leave me and the kids lonely. I thought it was narcissism, but this seems more likely?

[@Bobby_Rib]

For what it's worth I just got diagnosed with this at 30. My neuropsychologist mentioned that things can start to manifest in your 20s once the brain fully develops.

[@paulgoogol2652]

I'm sure no expert in this but I think there are too many personality disorder types causing overlapping or assigning multiple disorders. This guy could have been narcisstic (covert), avoidant as said here, borderline (mild, or bipolar, because girls are more likely to get labelled borderline). Covert narcissm I find interesting because people suffering from it have trouble forming a realistic image of another person or themselves and tend to overvalue or undervalue others and themselves (his weird relation/expectations of hygiene). I think this image we make of ourselves and others is the absolute core for all relationships. We never really know other persons but just this image reflecting whom we think people or we ourselves are. That's the interesting stuff imo. Not induvidual problems of weirdos.

[@reneeharold7335]

I think most people that are bi - polar would have had at least one or two steady girlfriends ( or boyfriends) by the time they are college age. Also he said he never even had a friend, I think someone who's bipolar would have had at least a few friends by the time they are college age. I'm bi polar and I was introverted a lot of the time but not always.

[@paulgoogol2652]

@@reneeharold7335 Bi-Polar is just weird, I can't say anything about it but only heard on forus as quora that it is similar to borderline. Way too far from my life experience.

[@snackpack113]

Thanks Dr. Grande! This is interesting & I need to read about Cluster A personality types in the DSM. Once I'm in the workplace, I hope for a supervisor with your knowledge! 😁

[@humanbeing5300]

I dont think I am full on schizoid but more of an extreme introvert, luckily I can function fairly well as an extrovert if I have to but its not my natural inclination or tendency. If not forced to I would never choose socializing over pursuing my solo interests

[@kubluu]

Dr. Grande, what is the treatment for incels? Is it the same as for narcissist or avoidant disorder?

[@babblingalong7689]

Seriously? Treatment for incels? It's not a disorder. As a layman I would say: work on your social skills, make lots of friends, and buy a sex doll. Getting laid is not for everybody, it's quite difficult and some of us have to accept it's out of our reach. But friendships and a good life aren't. A therapist or some other therapeutic setting can definitely help you improve your social skills though.

[@mmestari]

The cure is poontang pie, or some hot taco.

[@ابوالشيطانالذهبيخوارقخفةاليد]

Separation from your family