Question

A patient comes into the clinic because his family (whom he sees only one or two times per year) keeps telling him to "go see a shrink." He has no close relationships. He participates mainly in solitary activities. He has no desire for sexual activity with others. He is indifferent to the praise or criticism of others. On examination his affect is flat. His most likely diagnosis is:

A. Schizoid personality disorder
B. Schizotypal personality disorder
C. Narcissistic personality disorder
D. Major depressive disorder
E. Dysthymic disorder

Answer 1

The patient is most likely to be diagnosed with Schizoid Personality Disorder because of his detachment from social relationships, limited range of emotions, and absence of psychotic features.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely diagnosis for the patient who exhibits solitary activities, no desire for sexual activity with others, indifference to praise or criticism, and flat affect, without seemingly any evidence of fluctuating mood states, delusions, or hallucinations, is Schizoid Personality Disorder (A). This disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions in interpersonal settings, which aligns with the patient's symptoms more than the symptoms of the other listed disorders. Schizoid Personality Disorder distinguishes itself from Schizophrenia by the absence of psychotic features, such as delusions or hallucinations, that are present in schizophrenia.