This person may believe they have special powers or magical abilities, such as mind reading or telepathy. This person may be overly superstitious and go out of their way to avoid superstitious places or events.

The person may have an odd or eccentric appearance or social presence. They may be disheveled or make unusual outfit choices. The person may claim to experience unusual bodily experiences, like saying that little beings live inside them or that aliens have implanted something into their body. [4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source

While you may not be able to put your finger on it, you may notice this person’s speech and way of talking seems odd or a bit off. For example, they might make overly-generalized statements such as, “Everybody knows that aliens live underneath the Earth. The government has been hiding it from us but everybody knows it. ”

They may inappropriately show affection or feelings toward people, animals, and situations. Patients with Schizotypal Personality Disorder tend to have an affect or expression that is unusual, while their affect can be inappropriate or constricted.

Someone with this disorder may lack close friends outside of first-degree relatives, due to a lack of socialization. You might consider this person a loner or socially isolated. The person may appear to be intensely socially anxious, yet the anxiety appears to come from paranoia and not from negative judgments about the self.

A personality disorder affects a person’s ability to approach employment, day-to-day life, and social relationships, often resulting in problems in these areas and emotional distress. [9] X Research source Personality disorders do not occur in episodes and are pervasive in the person’s day-to-day life.

People with schizophrenia truly believe their reality is correct and those with schizotypal personality disorder may be receptive to feedback that their reality is distorted.

Autistic people can usually carry on a logical conversation, and although they can be easily fooled, they are able to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Autistic people are likely to display passionate and intense interests, sensory over- or under-sensitivities, developmental delays and quirks, disorganization, difficulty understanding social skills, and stimming. People with schizotypal PD typically do not.

Those with schizotypal personality disorder may be at a higher risk for a psychotic episode, typically in response to stress.

Generally, personality disorders are diagnosed in adulthood. Because personality is constantly changing during development, children and teens do not typically receive this diagnosis. [14] X Research source Some early warning signs include having poor social skills and few interpersonal relationships. These patterns may begin to emerge in childhood.

If you are concerned about your loved one, encourage them to speak with a treating professional such as a psychologist, social worker, or psychiatrist.

It’s important to get a diagnosis in order to better understand the diagnosis and to receive treatment.

Medications can be helpful to treat severe symptoms, but these must be prescribed by a clinical psychiatrist. [19] X Research source Patients should see a therapist or psychologist for cognitive behavioral therapy while being treated with ongoing medication. [20] X Expert Source Padam Bhatia, MDBoard Certified Psychiatrist Expert Interview. 3 April 2020.