Schizotypal similar to ASD ? What do you think

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Something which was entitled "Schizotypal Personality Disorder Vs. Aspergers":
http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/schizophrenia-discussions/general-support/2680222-schizotypal-personality-disorder-vs-aspergers

I think that it is bad and harmful that schizotypal disorder is in DSM in the category of personality disorders, not in one category with shizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (as in ICD-10). Schizotypal disorder is a mental illness, like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, not (just) a personality disorder.

I fit rather to schizotypy than to ASD. I have not may traits which are common among individuals on the spectrum and I do not remember having them in childhood. I do not have (at least more blatant) symptoms of schizophrenia, like hallucinations, agreeing with delusional thoughts without a doubt, cognitive disorganisation. I was diagnosed with Asperger's, with a pervasive developmental disorder (which in my case appears to be not related to childhood autism). I think that it is right that my case was put in this serious category (F84 in ICD-10) with problems like childhood autism, Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. I could be happy because of proper classifying of my problems - as a pervasive developmental disorder and a mental illness, not as a learning disability (like NVLD) and a personality disorder.

I don't think schizotypical is similar to ASD because that is what authority says and I am NT. I think autism is less flat. Schizotypical is more death.

Booger.

_________________
Unapologetically, Norny.
-chronically drunk

Schizotypal disorder is a mental illness (I agree with the opinion that it may be called as a sort of schizophrenia), Asperger's (ASD) is a developmental disorder (some people may even think that Asperger's and HFA are not disorders or disabilities, but differences (which have also strengths) or unique cognitive styles). Having ASD does not mean that you can't have a mental illness (like schizophrena, schizotypal or schizoaffective disorders) or at least "schizotypal traits".

Schizotypal disorder is not associated with need of sameness and predictability, prosopagnosia, "painful honesty" associated with deficits in theory of mind, idiosyncratic sensory processing (although unusual sensory experiences can be present in schizotypy), unlike childhood autism and conditions related to it. I do not have these symptoms, so I suppose that I am in fact NOT "on the spectrum" despite having a PDD (which appears to belong rather to schizophrenia spectrum). Two people with ASD from Polish AS forum voted that I have schizophrenia and delusions, not just schizotypy and obsessions.

Magical thinking (in my case it were presesnt when I was about 12 - 16 and were quite intensive, it has obsessive-compulsive character) , suspiciousness (I have it since being about 16 - I have "strange", "persistent" "fear" of being poisoned or killed by strangers (like classmates)), bizarre fantasies (I had strange fantasies even when I was about 6, they was somewhat "grandiose" when I was about 10 - 12), ideas of reference are symptoms of schizotypal disorder. I have poor nonverbal communication, no close friends, tendency to "one-sided" interactions (my "nature" is "disinterested" in socialisation), fixated interests, OCD, "urge to autostimulation", problems with dealing with uncomfortable sensory experiences (like too cold or too hot water during having a shower). Maybe I would meet DSM-V criteria for ASD. I was "odd" since childhood (but in first three years I could have (rather) normal development, I do not know so much about that period of my life)).

I found interesting text about Asperger's, "autistic psychopathy": http://paulcooijmans.com/asperger/straight_talk_about_asperger.html. Asperger's described in that text appears to be something other than the disorder commonly named autism. An interesting fragment from that page (bolding and underlining mine):

Schizotypal descriptions seems like unspecified weirdo category.
I don't know if it has to do with autism or not.
If the person is normal developing in early childhood, then probably not.
Is there any help provided to people with schizotypal personality?
I don't know why there are some personality disorder labels.
They would have purpose if there were specific help for them, but I haven't heard much about that for personality disorders.

For grins and giggles. ..

Aspie hubby was first diagnosed with

Schizotypical, major depression, SAD, and OCD.

His GP and everyone who knew him called BS on that.

Schizotypicals know how to socialize. They know how to shoot the s**t with the herd. They choose not to socialize and deal with humanity for whatever reasons they have.

The first psychiatrist got a huge screed from my husband on how humanity basically sucks etc. My husband can fake NT very well. That "I don't need people" screed is what the drove the Schizotypical diagnosis. The first psychiatrist was a jerk, and my husband was upset at work, and how everything was going to hell in his life. My husband was lashing out-venting. The psychiatrist took it at face value.

The Autism expert said (and my husband said that this is true for him)...

My husband WANTS to be with people. He wants interaction, but it is so hard for him because his social skills are crap. When he gets drained or socially beat up for not understanding humanity, he gets pissed and retreats. The Schizotypical understands the social inner workings and chooses not to play. They have little use for relationships.

My husband's test results were such a hot mess in the executive function skills, and social skills (things like idioms-he has no clue). They pulled his adjust IQ score down by 30 points. You don't see that type of test results in people with Schizotypical disorder.

There will never be a therapy that will rewire my husband's brain to NT. Schizotypical disorder is a mental illness. Between talk therapy and medication, the depression and disordered thinking can go away.

I think many Aspies get frustrated with dealing with people, and it is such a battle to fake normal, that they withdraw from people. If it was easier to function, they wouldn't isolate. Schizotypicals just flat out don't care about dealing with humanity or forming bounds.

Anyway, that is how the Autism expert explained the difference between the two to us.

Really like that post of yours, Tawaki, you've made some really important points.

I do not have problems with idioms and rather did not have them (at least larger ones) in childhood. I am not literal and concrete thinker, I think rather in words than in pictures. I do not have "drive" to interact socially in typical way, but I like to be with friendly, understanding people. I have need of having female partner since childhood (I would prefer not having it). I might developed quite normally in infancy. But just about being 6 years old I was "kooky". I suppose that I would be misclassified as just NVLDer and (or) an individual with personality disorder(s) in Northern America.

According to research I've read, schizotypal features are common in autistic adolescents.

Schizotypal PD itself is a valid diagnostic category, and just because one thinks it doesn't apply to him doesn't mean it applies to no one.

Most people get vague when describing magical thinking and odd beliefs because a lot of these things overlap with conventional beliefs. The reason that Christianity is not considered to be unconventional - as an example - is because it is part of social norms. People are raised in Christianity and believe in it their entire lives without showing other signs of schizotypal PD, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophrenia. However, someone who believes that they can hear angels speaking very well might fit into one of those categories, especially if they meet other criteria.

One thing about personality disorders is that they are often ego syntonic, meaning they do not clash with one's perception of one's self as a person. Someone who has schizotypal PD is not likely to believe they have schizotypal PD without a paradigm shift in their own self-perception. That doesn't mean the OP has schizotypal PD, incidentally. That's just a general comment about personality disorders.