Posted by Kari on August 11, 2002, at 10:30:45
In reply to Re: schizotypal personality disorder » Kari, posted by Dinah on August 10, 2002, at 9:39:40
Hi Dinah,
The first thing I have to mention is that I always enjoy reading your posts and find it difficult to understand what you mean by "odd ways of expressing yourself", as you always express youself so clearly and to the point :)
Are you still on depakote? Do you find it helpful for symptoms such as blunted emotions?
In response to your question, I have never been diagnosed with SPD. My Pdocs have generally stated that they don't know what I suffer from, though in the past I have received mistaken diagnoses from both extreme ends of the schizo spectrum. The assumption that SPD is the proper diagnosis is mine, based on symptoms like blunted emotions, severe social anxiety and communication problems, living in an internal world, autistic tendencies and a tendency to lose the capability for reality testing during stress.
The only AP I ever tried was perphenazine, which even at a low dose was difficult to bear, though it had some effect on emotional blunting. Perhaps an atypical AP would yield better results but perphenazine has given me tardive dyskinesia, bouts of dystonia and parkinsonism every now and then (even years after going off the drug) and an intense fear of going anywhere near another neuroleptic. So all I can consider taking is celexa, which at the proper dose elminates all symptoms of anxiety and depression but leaves the negative symptoms of SPD unchanged.
Sorry I don't know of any books on the subject. There doesn't seem to be much about it on the internet, either, except for the repetition of DSM criteria, as you have already seen :)
Do you suffer from symptoms such as odd sensations or perceptions, social anxiety and being "trapped" in your own world? Most schizotypals seem to. Have you considered asking your therapist for more information and an explanation of the condition she suspects you suffer from? In any case, regardless of your diagnosis, I hope you find your therapy helpful and that you are able to work on the issues which you feel need to be worked on.
Sorry I couldn't be of any more help, but if you have any further questions, please let me know.
Take care,
Kari.
poster:Kari
thread:115917
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020807/msgs/116037.html