I agree, schizophrenia spectrum dxs can lead to obsessional interests. I'm not sure how prevalent it is with schizotypal, but with schizophrenia at least, it can happen. The concept of obsessional interests isn't limited to autism; bipolar disorder can also present with obsessions.
The main difference between the scz and autism special interests and BP special interests is that in BP, the special interest tends to occur when a person is manic, and usually subsides in intensity when a person is no longer manic. On another mental health board I frequent, I remember reading a thread where people got obsessed with arts and crafts, knitting [so they had almost a roomful of yarn], collecting animals, etc. Of course, once the mania subsided, the majority of them no longer found themselves immersed in their obsession.
Obsessions in schizophrenia spectrum disorders tend to occur when someone is in the midst of psychosis, and also may abate when the person is no longer psychotic. However, you can still get people whose obsessions continue with them even when they are in a relatively stable mental state.
With autism, the special interest tends to be more long-standing and stable, and occur irrespective of mood states or other mental states.
_________________
Said the apple to the orange,
"Oh, I wanted you to come
Close to me and
Kiss me to the core."
Think you're ASD? Get thee to a professional!
05 Aug 2011, 6:54 pm
