Little desire for or enjoyment of close relationships, including family relationships.
DSM-5-TR · Cluster A · personality disorder
Could I have schizoid personality disorder?
Schizoid personality disorder is characterised by a persistent detachment from social relationships and a limited range of emotional expression in interpersonal settings. Having some of these traits does not mean that someone has a personality disorder: DSM-5-TR requires an enduring, pervasive and clinically significant pattern.
Cluster AMistrust, detachment or eccentricity
4/7
DSM-5-TR
What are the DSM-5-TR features?
DSM-5-TR requires at least 4 of the 7 specific features, together with the general requirements for a personality disorder.
Specific criteria — paraphrased
A strong preference for solitary activities.
Little or no interest in sexual activity with another person.
Enjoyment of few activities.
Very few close friends or confidants, apart from possibly close relatives.
Apparent indifference to praise or criticism.
Emotional coldness, detachment or limited affective expression.
Diagnostic reference: DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The wording above is intentionally concise and paraphrased.
The specific criteria are not sufficient on their own
- The pattern is enduring, inflexible and present across different contexts — not only during a crisis or in one particular relationship.
- It causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
- The pattern is stable over time and can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.
- It is not better explained by another mental disorder, a substance/medication effect or a medical condition.
Differential diagnosis
Schizoid personality disorder, autism or schizophrenia?
In ASD, social difficulties are part of a developmental profile that also includes communication differences and restricted or repetitive behaviours/interests. Schizophrenia involves psychotic symptoms. In schizoid personality disorder, the central feature is detachment from relationships and limited interest in them.
Clinical assessment
How is the diagnosis made?
Diagnosis is not based on a checklist or a single questionnaire. It requires clinical interviewing, review of the person’s long-term pattern and functional impact across settings, and differential diagnosis. Personality questionnaires and tests can support that assessment.
The 10 specific DSM-5-TR personality disorders
Explore the other personality disorders
Personality disorders can share features and sometimes overlap, making differential diagnosis essential.
Are you wondering about your personality functioning?
An emotional and personality assessment can compare several hypotheses, clarify the overall pattern and avoid drawing conclusions from a few isolated traits.
