Treatment Implications
The two major goals when working with persons with Schizoid elevations are to (a) encourage at least some increase in social interaction and (b) help them to enhance their ability to experience pleasure. However, these goals are difficult to achieve in a client who is neither likely to become particularly involved in the therapeutic relationship nor ready to place much value in exploration and insight. As a result, the prognosis is poor. In addition, many therapists are likely to feel that schizoids are not particularly rewarding to work with. Therapists must be prepared for long silences and a distant relationship. Yet, any relationship that does develop can be extremely important for the client. Problem solving should be directed at concrete, practical matters. Useful techniques might be audiotape or videotape feedback of their behavior, and cognitive monitoring and reorientation of their internal processes. On the other hand, operant conditioning might prove difficult because they have little capacity for external rewards. Similarly, insight might be unproductive because they are not particularly psychologically minded.