Some people go through life preferring to stay on the outside or on the edges of gatherings rather than in the center. Conversations that others experience as bonding could feel draining or unnecessary for such people. And solitude is where they might feel most at ease.
A lifelong pattern of emotional detachment and social withdrawal is more than personal preference. It can be a reflection of schizoid personality disorder (SPD), a hardwired condition that can shape how you connect, cope, and protect yourself.
It’s good to note that living this way doesn’t always feel distressing for those with schizoid personality disorder. In fact, some find comfort in predictable routines and self-sufficiency. But isolation can also take a toll. Relationships may become harder to sustain, and emotional expression can feel out of reach. A life organized around distance can gradually grow smaller than intended.
If extreme social withdrawal is affecting your everyday life and well-being, a mental health professional can provide guidance and routes to increased connection. This page can also help you better understand the schizoid personality disorder adults may experience by exploring:
Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) is a condition defined by a lack of desire for personal relationships, a muted range of emotional expressions, and a sense of comfort in being alone.1 It’s one of the cluster A disorders categorized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as “odd,” “eccentric,” or “detached.” 2
This disorder is relatively uncommon, occurring in around 3.1% of the general population.3 People with SPD might describe feeling more at home in their own thoughts than in social spaces. Plus, their inner world may be vivid, complex, or imaginative, even if very little of it gets expressed outwardly.
If you have an SPD diagnosis, you may be more likely to:
Schizoid personality disorder symptoms often begin in early adulthood and can affect several areas of your life. This personality disorder is not as common as other personality disorders but is more prevalent than schizophrenia. Symptoms and signs of schizoid personality disorder do resemble other mental health conditions and may be mistaken for autism or other personality disorders.
The causes of schizoid personality disorder are not fully understood, but genetics, early childhood experiences, and biological factors may contribute. A family history of personality disorders, emotional neglect, or limited social interaction during childhood may increase the risk. Additionally, certain personality traits and environmental factors could play a role in its development.
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Many people misunderstand schizoid personality disorder, partly because its symptoms overlap with several other mental health conditions. Many adults with SPD won’t appear outwardly distressed or even be bothered by their condition. Therefore, their preference for solitude and lack of emotional expression can resemble a range of other patterns. Understanding these differences informs the way these disorders are approached and treated.
The following are explanations of how SPD looks similar to and differs from other disorders:
SPD and ASD can look similar from the outside as they both might involve minimal facial expressions, limited eye contact, or difficulty with social interactions. But autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has more to do with lifelong patterns in how you communicate, process sensory experiences, interact, and behave.
SPD centers more on emotional detachment and a reduced drive for intimacy, not differences in neurological development. Essentially, the difference is not the capacity for social interaction – which you might get with ASD – but the motivation for it, which is the challenge in SPD.5
Both SPD and AvPD involve avoidance of social interaction, but the difference lies in the reasoning behind it. People with SPD may have extreme social withdrawal because they have no interest in connection or relationships.
In contrast, those with AvPD may crave relationships but actively avoid them because of intense fear of being judged or rejected. The emotional longing is there, but reaching for closeness feels terrifying. In SPD, that longing is typically absent, and the isolation and aloneness are preferred.6
Because the name sounds similar, SPD is often confused with schizophrenia. But they’re two distinct conditions without any relation other than how the limited emotional range in SPD may mirror the negative symptoms, like diminished expression, in schizophrenia. SPD is more of an emotional detachment disorder rather than a psychotic disorder.
Schizophrenia involves symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, or significant cognitive changes. These symptoms reflect a break from reality, something that is not part of schizoid personality disorder.7
People with SPD remain grounded in reality with clear thinking and perceptions. They may appear quiet or inwardly focused, but do not experience the psychotic symptoms that define schizophrenia.
The exact reason why social withdrawal happens and people develop schizoid personality disorder is not known. However, a few possibilities why this might happen are:
Our genes and biology influence the development of our personalities, with temperament also playing a crucial role.8 In fact, twin studies show that people inherit schizoid personality disorder at a rate of about 30%.9 Plus, other studies have found that people are more likely to have cluster A personality disorders, especially schizoid and schizotypal disorder, when they have a biological relative with schizophrenia.10
Childhood experiences, especially those involving having a neglectful parent or childhood trauma, may cause or contribute to interpersonal functioning difficulties. Studies found that childhood isolation, lack of affection from parents, and emotional abuse were associated with higher rates of schizoid personality disorder.11
Personality disorders are often associated with medical conditions, especially those that affect the brain or damage neurons. Schizoid personality disorder could be related to damage to parts of the brain that handle emotion processing and social function. It might also have to do with conditions like Huntington’s Disease, epilepsy, heavy metal poisoning, or head trauma.12
Other mental health conditions can also contribute to developing SPD. There is research that shows that people who have childhood depression and later develop a personality disorder are more likely to develop schizoid personality disorder compared to other personality disorders.13 While this connection is not fully understood, there may be a contributing relationship between other mental health conditions and SPD.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Personality Disorder support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
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If you have schizoid personality disorder, you may not recognize that your symptoms are causing distress, so you might only seek schizoid treatment programs because of a close relative. This may be because certain behaviors might be causing stress for people in your life.
However, your symptoms could be causing you distress, or you may be having a difficult time coping with isolation, leading you to seek schizoid treatment programs.
In either scenario, the following therapeutic approaches might be helpful:
CBT is effective in treating personality disorders in general.14 For someone with schizoid behavior patterns, this approach explores the distorted thoughts and perceptions about the importance and usefulness of relationships with others. These thoughts might be, I function better alone, or Emotions create problems. By identifying such thoughts, you can work to question and challenge whether they are still serving you.
Psychodynamic therapy looks at the unconscious processes that drive our behavior. It can be particularly meaningful for someone with SPD because it explores the origins of how they relate to others. Sessions might involve looking at how early emotional experiences shaped the belief that closeness is unnecessary or overwhelming.
For people with SPD, identifying emotions can be one of their biggest challenges. They may know what they think about a situation long before they know what they feel. Experiential therapies, including emotion-focused work, somatic awareness, and guided expression, can bridge the gap between what we think and what we feel. These approaches create gentle, nonjudgmental opportunities to notice emotional cues, understand feelings, and build comfort with expressing vulnerability.
IPT focuses directly on role transitions, communication patterns, and the expectations we bring into relationships. This can be particularly helpful for adults with SPD who want greater stability in relationships but feel unsure how to initiate or maintain emotional closeness. The structure of IPT offers enough predictability to feel safe while still inviting gradual interpersonal growth.
At AMFM Healthcare, we understand that schizoid personality disorder can cause you to feel blunted or muted internally, leading to disconnection and isolation. Using evidence-based approaches like CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and group therapy, our programs offer mental health support for adults struggling to connect.
Whether you’re exploring outpatient therapy or considering residential mental health treatment for deeper stabilization, our team is here to work with you, your needs, and your level of readiness.
If you or someone you love is struggling with long-standing emotional detachment or a pattern of withdrawal, contact AMFM Healthcare today to take the next step toward a life with greater connection.
Complete the form to receive a prompt call back from a member of our experienced and compassionate admissions staff. All communication is 100% confidential.
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If you have an emotional detachment disorder, such as SPD, it’s understandable to have some continuing concerns about the SPD diagnosis and treatment process. For this reason, we’ve included some responses to commonly asked questions on the topic.
No, schizoid personality disorder is not the same as being introverted. Introverts have a preference for quiet settings and time alone to recharge their energy, but they also typically experience emotional closeness and connection. Someone with SPD may feel indifferent to forming relationships or sharing personal experiences, even with people they trust. The difference is less about personality style and more about how a person experiences emotion and closeness.
The key characteristics of people with SPD include a preference for being alone and a lack of or desire for close friends. They may also involve little interest in sexual activity, emotional detachment or coldness, and not being interested in praise or criticism.
Yes, people with SPD can have friends, but it is difficult for them to form and maintain close relationships because of a lack of interest. So while you can be friends with someone with schizoid personality disorder, you might find you’re working harder to maintain the friendship than they are, which can be emotionally exhausting.
Our supportive psychotherapy for adults dealing with emotional distance offers a space where they can explore their emotions at their own pace. Our clinicians understand that people with SPD often need time, space, and steady rapport to feel comfortable opening up, so treatment is never rushed. We offer a blend of evidence-based therapy, experiential modalities, and structured support, creating a pathway for growth that feels grounded and attainable.
