Preface

Summary

This is the first book of any kind to be published on schizotypal personality. Such a book has long been overdue. Although the concept of schizotypal personality has been in existence for many years, it was 1980 before it was formalized in DSM-III-R. The past 15 years have witnessed a steady increase in research on schizotypal personality and recognition of its importance as a major personality disorder that has the potential for contributing to our understanding of schizophrenia. We hope, therefore, that this first book will fill a significant and pressing gap in the current literature.

The importance of understanding schizotypal personality cannot be overemphasized. At a clinical level, schizotypal personality disorder is defined as a lifelong personality disorder characterized by nine traits: ideas of reference, excessive social anxiety, magical thinking, unusual perceptual experiences, eccentric behavior or appearance, no close friends or confidants, odd speech, constricted affect, and suspiciousness. This syndrome can be socially and occupationally debilitating, but because schizotypals are socially avoidant, they rarely present themselves for treatment. It is becoming increasingly important, therefore, to understand this personality disorder in order ultimately to help people afflicted with schizotypal personality disorder. In nonclinical populations, research on schizotypy can help us to understand the normal variations that exist in the general population of schizotypal traits and perhaps give some insight into the more advantageous features of schizotypy, such as increased creativity. In addition, the research described in this book can prove informative for those seeking to understand the biological bases of normal personality processes.