A Personality Disorders: Schizotypal, Schizoid and Paranoid Personality Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Michelle L. Esterberg, Emory University; Sandra M. Goulding, Emory University; Elaine Walker, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2010-12-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
• Final Published Version (URL): http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10862-010-9183-8
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
• ISSN: 0882-2689
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 515
• End Page: 528
• Keywords: Paranoid personality disorder; Schizoid personality disorder; Personality disorders; Schizotypal personality disorder; Cluster A
• Research Categories: Psychology, General

Abstract

Cluster A personality disorders (PD), including schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), paranoid personality disorder (PPD), and schizoid PD, are marked by odd and eccentric behaviors, and are grouped together because of common patterns in symptomatology as well as shared genetic and environmental risk factors. The DSM-IV-TR describes personality disorders as representing stable and enduring patterns of maladaptive traits, and much of what is understood about Cluster A personality disorders in particular stems from research with adult populations. Less in known about these disorders in children and adolescents, and controversy remains regarding diagnosis of personality disorders in general in youth. The current paper reviews the available research on Cluster A personality disorders in childhood and adolescence; specifically, we discuss differentiating between the three disorders and distinguishing them from other syndromes, measuring Cluster A disorders in youth, and the nature and course of these disorders throughout childhood and adolescence. We also present recent longitudinal data from a sample of adolescents diagnosed with Cluster A personality disorders from our research laboratory, and suggest directions for future research in this important but understudied area.