Abnormal Psychology

590 CHAPTER 13

Treating Odd/Eccentric Personality Disorders

Unfortunately, very little research has been conducted to evaluate treatments for

these personality disorders. People with an odd/eccentric personality disorder tend

not to be interested in treatment and, if urged or coerced into it, are often reluctant

participants at best. Treatment may create signifi cant anxiety for the patient. Thus,

the particular challenge of treating people with odd/eccentric personality disorders

13.4 • Feedback Loops in Action: Schizotypal Personality Disorder

Figure 13.4g34

Mental Processes and

Mental Contents

Cognitive deficits

Difficulty recognizing

emotions in other people

Impaired theory of mind

Basic mistrust about the

motives of others

Affect

Constricted affect

Behavior

Odd speech and behavior

Isolation and avoidence

Stressful Life Events

Abuse or neglect

Poor ability to

understand nonverbal

communications of

others, which can

make social

interactions stressful

Gender/Culture

Family

Insecure attachment

Discrimination

Genetics

Inherited vulnerability

for schizophrenia

spectrum disorders

Neural Communication

NeuroPsychoSocial

Brain Systems

NeuroPsychoSocial NeuroPsychoSocial

Frontal lobes

Temporal lobes

Thalamus

Hippocampus

Dopamine

Serotonin

Glutamate