How to Distinguish Between Schizoid Personality Disorder and Autism

Written by Luna Rose

Last Updated: May 3, 2024 References

Schizoid personality disorder (schizoid PD) and autism both cause social withdrawal, making them appear similar on the surface and potentially causing you to mistake someone with one of these conditions to someone with the other. Here is how to tell the difference and determine which one best describes you or a loved one.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Understanding the Conditions

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1
Recognize similarities between the two conditions. Both autism and schizoid PD can involve similar social traits, and can look very similar on the surface.
- Social withdrawal
- Deep inner worlds^{[1]
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- Difficulty with social skills
- Difficulty relating to others^{[2]
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- Getting overwhelmed in social situations
- May be considered "cold" by others
- Difficulty with emotional expression^{[3]
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- Unlikely to have many friends
- Enjoyment of being alone
2
Look at the individual and family history. Genetics is believed to play a role in both autism and schizoid PD, so if one runs in the family, the individual is more likely to have it. Cold, unresponsive, or neglectful parents increase the risk of schizoid personality,^{[4]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} as well as other early-life stressors like severe poverty or frequent illness.^{[5]
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Research source} Autism begins in utero^{[6]
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Research source} and is never caused by bad parenting.
- Don't automatically assume that trauma means the person has schizoid PD. Autistic children are at higher risk of abuse and PTSD, at home, in school, and in some compliance-based therapies.
- Not all people with schizoid PD have bad parents. While bad parenting increases the chances, perfectly good parents can end up with a child with schizoid PD.
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3
Consider how much the person is interested in social interactions. People with schizoid PD tend to appear aloof because socializing doesn't interest them much. Autistic people often care deeply, but show it differently, and may withdraw because it is overwhelming.
- Some autistic people want close relationships, but do not know how to obtain them.
- People with schizoid PD have little or no desire to find love and marry.^{[7]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
  Go to source} Many autistic people enjoy romantic relationships and may get married.
4
Consider how the person reacts when praised or criticized. While autistic people may have unique body language, they will almost always react. People with schizoid personality disorder will typically appear indifferent.
- Some autistic people seem "lost in their own world" to onlookers. They see and hear everything, but may not show a visible response. Take into account how much the person reacts to the world in general.
Tip: Nearly half of autistic people have issues related to fear of being ridiculed and put down. They may get distressed by well-intended "friendly" teasing because it's hard for them to tell the difference.^{[8]
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Research source} This is in contrast to people with schizoid PD, who tend to feel more apathetic even to teasing that isn't well-intended.
5
Consider whether and how much the person enjoys close relationships. Most autistic people have or want close relationships with a few loved ones, such as family or friends. People with schizoid PD tend to be more indifferent and are unlikely to have bonds with people who aren't first-degree relatives.
- An autistic person may not pick up on subtle social cues like body language. A person who has schizoid personality disorder might over-interpret these things, often in a suspicious way.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  George Sachs, PsyD
  Licensed Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.}
6
Think about whether the person learns and grows from social experiences. Social differences in schizoid PD are caused mainly by a lack of interest, while in autism, they are caused by confusion and lack of skills. An autistic person will learn from new experiences (especially with coaching), thus improving their social skills. Someone with schizoid PD is not interested in learning more social skills.^{[10]
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Personal interview with a psychologist.}
- Not all learning is constructive. For example, an autistic person might learn to suppress their natural stimming, which can lead to emotional problems.
7
Consider the person's developmental timeline. Autistic children develop at their own pace, meeting milestones more slowly, more quickly, or out of order. Developmental delay will be present in some or all areas. Unless another disability is present, people with schizoid traits will follow the expected timeline.
- Look at later milestones as well as early childhood: when did the person learn to swim, ride a bike, cook, do laundry, drive?
8
Examine the person's interests. Someone with schizoid PD shows little interest in hobbies and other activities, having no or very few activities they enjoy. Autistic people typically have a few "special interests," which are narrow, intense, and extremely passionate.^{[11]
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Expert Source

George Sachs, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist

Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.} A healthy autistic person can get very excited about their interests while someone with schizoid PD doesn't get emotional.
- Try striking up a conversation about the person's favorite subject. If they feel comfortable around you, an autistic person will love talking about their passions. Someone with schizoid PD will not be so enthusiastic.
- Circumstances can affect autistic people's special interests. Illnesses such as depression, or simply being in between interests, may leave them without passion. Compliance-based therapies, bullying, or negative feedback may make an autistic person afraid to share their interests with others. This can make identification harder.
9
Think about whether they show strong emotions. People with schizoid PD don't really show emotion, even in situations where most people would get emotional. They tend to seem indifferent.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} For autistic people, this varies, especially based on whether they have alexithymia. While some autistic people tend not to get emotional easily, others get emotional in ways others don't understand, and many are highly emotional.
- Autistic people may have breakdowns when they get overwhelmed by sensory or emotional triggers. A "meltdown" happens with an out-of-control emotional display because the person can't cope. A "shutdown" causes the person to completely withdraw and struggle to process sensory input. This is not typical in people with schizoid PD.
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Notice motivation and goals. People with schizoid PD tend not to be strongly motivated. Autistic people vary in motivation levels (just like neurotypicals do) and tend to be highly motivated about things that relate to their interests.^{[13]
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- People with schizoid PD usually prefer daydreaming over acting, which may translate to not getting much done.
- At work, someone with schizoid PD may not care how management perceives them or try hard to get promoted.
11
Look at differences caused by autism. Autism is a pervasive disability and impacts many areas of life. Schizoid personality disorder is more narrow. An autistic person will experience most or all of these traits:
- Stimming
- Deep, narrow special interests
- Sensory issues (under- or over-sensitivity)
- Reliance upon routine
- Meltdowns or shutdowns under stress
12
Look at the age of onset. Autism becomes visible in childhood, while schizoid PD usually begins around early adulthood (although some features may be noticed in childhood).^{[14]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Some autistic people aren't diagnosed until teen or adult years. However, in retrospect, they can identify autistic traits in their childhood.
- Autism is genetic, whereas schizoid personality disorder is often generated from childhood experiences.^{[15]
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  Expert Source
  
  George Sachs, PsyD
  Licensed Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Moving Forward

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1
Consider related conditions. It's possible that the person could have something else instead of schizoid PD or autism, or that they have something else in addition to one or both. Consider if the person's traits are explained by...
- Depression
- PTSD
- Alexithymia
- Social anxiety
- Reactive attachment
- Avoidant personality disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Introversion (a personality trait, not a disorder)
- Asexuality (a sexual orientation, not a disorder)
2
Consider the possibility of both conditions. It is possible for someone to both be autistic and have schizoid PD.^{[16]
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3
Visit your general doctor. The doctor will most likely refer you to a specialist to help make an accurate diagnosis.
- Writing a list of signs you've noticed may be helpful.
- Feel free to print off any articles that helped you, including this one.
- Talk to the specialist if you have any concerns about misdiagnosis.
- Reader Poll: We asked 430 wikiHow readers and 54% of them agreed that the best way to try to manage a personality disorder is by seeking an official diagnosis from a medical professional. [Take Poll]

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can you tell the difference between autism and schizoid personality disorder.

George Sachs, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
George Sachs is a Licensed Psychologist and the Owner of Sachs Center based in New York, New York. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Sachs specializes in treating ADD/ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders in children, teens, and adults. He holds a BS in Psychology from Emory University. Dr. Sachs earned his Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago. He completed his clinical training in Chicago at Cook County Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and the Child Study Center. Dr. Sachs completed his internship and postdoctoral work at the Children’s Institute in Los Angeles, where he supervised and trained therapists in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT). He has been trained as a Gestalt Therapist and certified by the Gestalt Associates Training Program of Los Angeles. Dr. Sachs is the author of The Adult ADD Solution, Helping the Traumatized Child, and Helping Your Husband with Adult ADD. He has appeared on the Huffington Post, NBC Nightly News, CBS, and WPIX discussing his holistic approach to ADD/ADHD treatment.

George Sachs, PsyD

Licensed Psychologist

Expert Answer

They're actually very similar and hard to distinguish. The main difference is that people with autism fail to recognize social cues and certain subtle signs that people give, like body language. A person who's schizotypal is aware of these cues and actually focuses on them more, often in a suspicious way.

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Social differences in schizoid PD are often caused by lack of interest. In autism, they are often caused by confusion or lack of skills.

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