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These personality disorders have the shared characteristics of odd or eccentric behavior and are often associated with schizophrenia.

- paranoid personality disorder
- schizoid personality disorder
- schizotypal personality disorder


Personality Disorders Cluster A 

As the name implies, this disorder is characterized by paranoia and distrust. It is also characterized by excessive sensitivity to failure, tendency to hold grudges, aggressive sense of complacency, excessive self-restraint, and the belief of conspiracy theories. Individuals with this diagnosis cannot have their cognition explained by delusional disorder or schizophrenia. PPD is not psychosis, as the patient has not lost touch with reality. 

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A disorder marked by consistent avoidance of social interaction, a disinterest in others, and flat emotional affect. Very uncommon, it only affects less than 1% of the population. Though symptoms are similar to schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia, those with schizoid personality disorder have not lost touch with reality (no hallucinations or delusions), and their speech is coherent and rational. Also, these individuals are not anxious about their lack of social contact, unlike in schizotypal personality disorder. 

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Marked by social deficits, social anxiety that does not decrease with familiarity, eccentric behavior, bizarre thinking, and odd speech characteristic of schizophrenia.  Often these individuals are preoccupied with superstitious beliefs about the supernatural. 
Though symptoms are very similar to schizophrenia, and often is confused for this diagnosis, the main difference lies in the presence or duration of psychotic episodes. People with schizotypal personality disorder may have brief, not very intense, and infrequent psychotic episodes, unlike in schizophrenia. Another key difference is that those with SPD can be made aware of their eccentricities, whereas it is very difficult to impossible to sway individuals with schizophrenia away from their delusions. 


Schizotypal Personality Disorder

A man is described by his neighbors as a recluse who lives alone and rarely interacts with anyone. He has elaborate, unfounded beliefs about government surveillance, which he explains in a vague and metaphorical way. He dresses in unusual, mismatched clothing regardless of the weather. Based on this description, which of the following best categorizes his enduring pattern of behavior?

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