Lifelong eccentricity and social isolation. II: Asperger's syndrome or schizoid personality disorder?
Several scales are described for measuring aspects of eccentricity and social isolation; in particular, for assessing schizoid and schizotypal personality and for rating abnormal non-verbal expression. The latter is shown to be reliable, and the former to have a measure of validity. There was an association between schizoid personality traits and abnormalities of speech and non-verbal expression. However, abnormal non-verbal expression, but not schizoid personality traits or DSM-III schizotypal personality disorder, was particularly likely to occur in those subjects who had evidence of neurological deficit, and childhood symptoms indicative of developmental disorder. Abnormal non-verbal expression, but not personality disorder, was also associated with other characteristic features of Asperger's syndrome, such as unusual, 'special' interests. It is suggested that Asperger's syndrome is a distinct syndrome from either schizoid or schizotypal personality disorder, but may be a risk factor for the development of schizoid personality disorder.
Tantam
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University Hospital of South Manchester, West Didsbury.
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012557:Schizoid Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012934:Social Isolation; D013064:Speech Disorders