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Schizotypal personality disorder and suicide: problems and perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2021

Leo Sher Open the ORCID record for Leo Sher [Opens in a new window]
Leo Sher*
Affiliation:
James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Leo Sher, Email: leo.sher@mssm.edu
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Abstract

Schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) is classified in DSM-V as a cluster A personality disorder. Cluster A personality disorders are described as odd or eccentric conditions. SPD is associated with significant disability and many psychiatric comorbidities. Several studies have shown that SPD and schizotypal traits are associated with suicidal ideation and behaviour. Suicide prevention interventions in individuals with SPD are impeded because (1) SPD is frequently not diagnosed; (2) SPD is difficult to treat; and (3) there are no guidelines for suicide screening or suicide prevention interventions in individuals with SPD. Suicide prevention in persons with SPD consists of (1) diagnosing SPD; (2) providing appropriate treatment for SPD; and (3) providing suicide screening and suicide prevention. Interventions aiming at reduction of depressive symptoms, improvement of self-esteem, and interpersonal skills may be effective at reducing suicide risk amongst individuals with SPD. Studies of suicidality in persons with SPD are needed and may be an important area of suicide research. It is to be hoped that future studies of the pathophysiology of suicidality in individuals with SPD will help to develop strategies for suicide screening and suicide prevention interventions in persons with SPD and improve suicide prevention in this challenging patient population.

Keywords

schizotypal personality disorderschizotypal traitssuicidedepression
Type
Perspective
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 33 , Issue 5 , October 2021 , pp. 280 - 282
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology

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