ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the diagnostic criteria for Schizoid Personality Disorder according to DSM-IV. Medications that improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia should improve symptoms in schizoid personality disorder. Clozapine, olanzapine, sertindole, and risperidone are the four antipsychotics that are most effective in improving deficit symptoms, and are likely to be of significant benefit to patients with schizoid personality disorder. People with schizoid personality disorder come to the physician at the urging of concerned close family members. Antidepressants are used as secondary medications in the treatment of schizoid personality disorder. Antidepressants should treat anhedonia, social anxiety, aneigia, and overall dysphoria. Social-skills training is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is helpful to people who are socially inadequate or those who experience social anxiety, as in the case of schizoid personality disorder. The expectation is that understanding of the patients’ psychological dynamics will enable the physician to anticipate and manage medication resistance and noncompliance before they undermine treatment.
