Schizotypal personality disorder may decompensate under stress and become overtly psychotic for brief time.

• A. True in all cases
• B. Not associated with any psychotic features
• C. It may decompensate under stress and become overtly psychotic for brief time
• D. It always requires hospitalization

Answer: (C)

Schizotypal personality disorder sits on the schizophrenia spectrum, so it often involves perceptual distortions and unusual beliefs that are close to psychotic thinking. Under stress, these fragile features can escalate into a brief bout of overt psychosis—delusions or hallucinations—that peaks quickly and then remits as the stressor passes. This is why the statement is true: there can be a temporary decompensation with psychotic symptoms, even though the core pattern is personality-based rather than a full-blown psychotic disorder. It’s not universal or unavoidable, and it doesn’t imply that hospitalization is always required; management depends on the severity and safety considerations, with many episodes being short and localizable to the stressor.