Schizoid Personality Disorder 653
1. Neither desires nor enjoys close relationships, including being part of a family.
2. Almost always chooses solitary activities.
3. Has little, if any, interest in having sexual experiences with another person.
4. Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities.
5. Lacks close friends or confidants other than first-degree relatives.
6. Appears indifferent to the praise or criticism of others.
7. Shows emotional coldness, detachment, or flattened affectivity.
B. Does not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia, a bipolar disorder or
depressive disorder with psychotic features, another psychotic disorder, or autism
spectrum disorder and is not attributable to the physiological effects of another medical
condition.
Note: If criteria are met prior to the onset of schizophrenia, add “premorbid,” i.e., “schiz-
oid personality disorder (premorbid).”
Diagnostic Features
The essential feature of schizo id personality disorder is a pe rvasive pattern of detachment
from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal
settings. This pattern begins by early adulth ood and is present in a variety of contexts.
Individuals with schizoid personality disord er appear to lack a desire for intimacy,
seem indifferent to opportunities to develop close relationships, and do not seem to derive
much satisfaction from being part of a family or other social group (Criterion A1). They
prefer spending time by themselves, rather than being with other people. They often ap-
pear to be socially isolated or “loners” and al most always choose solitary activities or hob-
bies that do not include interaction with others (Criterion A2). They prefer mechanical or
abstract tasks, such as computer or mathemat ical games. They may have very little interest