Avoidant personality disorder

Template:Short description Template:Cs1 config Template:Infobox medical condition (new) Template:Personality disorders sidebar Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD), or anxious personality disorder, is a cluster C personality disorder characterized by excessive social anxiety and inhibition, fear of intimacy (despite an intense desire for it), severe feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, and an overreliance on avoidance of feared stimuli (e.g., self-imposed social isolation) as a maladaptive coping method.<ref name="who.int">Anxious [avoidant personality disorder] in ICD-10: Diagnostic Criteria Template:Webarchive and Clinical descriptions and guidelines. Template:Webarchive</ref> Those affected typically display a pattern of extreme sensitivity to negative evaluation and rejection, a belief that one is socially inept or personally unappealing to others, and avoidance of social interaction despite a strong desire for it.<ref name="DSM-5-general personality disorder2">Template:Cite book</ref> It appears to affect an approximately equal number of men and women.<ref name="DSM-5" />

People with AvPD often avoid social interaction for fear of being ridiculed, humiliated, rejected, or disliked. They typically avoid becoming involved with others unless they are certain they will not be rejected, and may also pre-emptively abandon relationships due to fear of a real or imagined risk of being rejected by the other party.<ref name=":5" />

Childhood emotional neglect (in particular, the rejection of a child by one or both parents) and peer group rejection are associated with an increased risk for its development; however, it is possible for AvPD to occur without any notable history of abuse or neglect.<ref name="avpd-env">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Signs and symptoms

Avoidant individuals are preoccupied with their own shortcomings and form relationships with others only if they believe they will not be rejected. They often view themselves with contempt, while showing a decreased ability to identify traits within themselves that are generally considered as positive within their societies.<ref name="retzlaff">Will, Retzlaff, ed. (1995). p. 97</ref> Loss and social rejection are so painful that these individuals will choose to be alone rather than risk trying to connect with others.

Some with this disorder fantasize about idealized, accepting, and affectionate relationships because of their desire to belong. They often feel themselves unworthy of the relationships they desire, and shame themselves from ever attempting to begin them. If they do manage to form relationships, it is also common for them to pre-emptively abandon them out of fear of the relationship failing.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite book</ref>

Individuals with the disorder tend to describe themselves as uneasy, anxious, lonely, unwanted and isolated from others.<ref name="millon1996">Template:Cite book</ref> They often choose jobs of isolation in which they do not have to interact with others regularly. Avoidant individuals also avoid performing activities in public spaces for fear of embarrassing themselves in front of others.

Symptoms include:

• Extreme shyness or anxiety in social situations<ref name="DSM-5" />
• Heightened attachment-related anxiety, which may include a fear of abandonment<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
• Substance use disorders<ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Comorbidity

AvPD is reported to be especially prevalent in people with anxiety disorders, although estimates of comorbidity vary widely due to differences in (among others) diagnostic instruments. Research suggests that approximately 10–50% of people who have panic disorder with agoraphobia have avoidant personality disorder, as well as about 20–40% of people who have social anxiety disorder. In addition to this, AvPD is more prevalent in people who have comorbid social anxiety disorder and generalised anxiety disorder than in those who have only one of the aforementioned conditions.<ref name=sciencedirect>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Some studies report prevalence rates of up to 45% among people with generalized anxiety disorder and up to 56% of those with obsessive–compulsive disorder.<ref>Van Velzen, C. J. M. (2002). Social Phobia and Personality Disorders: Comorbidity and Treatment Issues. Groningen: University Library Groningen. (online version Template:Webarchive)</ref> Posttraumatic stress disorder is also commonly comorbid with avoidant personality disorder.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Avoidants are prone to self-loathing and, in certain cases, self-harm. Substance use disorders are also common in individuals with AvPD—particularly in regard to alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids<ref name=":3" />—and may significantly affect a patient's prognosis.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Earlier theorists proposed a personality disorder with a combination of features from borderline personality disorder (BPD) and avoidant personality disorder, called "avoidant-borderline mixed personality" (AvPD/BPD).<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Causes

Causes of AvPD are not clearly defined,<ref name="Sed2009">Template:Cite book</ref> but appear to be influenced by a combination of social, genetic and psychological factors. The disorder may be related to temperamental factors that are inherited.<ref name="eggum" /><ref name=emedicine>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

Specifically, various anxiety disorders in childhood and adolescence have been associated with a temperament characterized by behavioral inhibition, including features of being shy, fearful and withdrawn in new situations.<ref name="amn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These inherited characteristics may give an individual a genetic predisposition towards AvPD.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Childhood emotional neglect<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and peer group rejection<ref name="sperry">Template:Cite book</ref> are both associated with an increased risk for the development of AvPD.<ref name="eggum">Template:Cite journal</ref> Some researchers believe a combination of high-sensory-processing sensitivity coupled with adverse childhood experiences may heighten the risk of an individual developing AvPD.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Subtypes

Millon's subtypes

Psychologist Theodore Millon notes that because most patients present a mixed picture of symptoms, their personality disorder tends to be a blend of a major personality disorder type with one or more secondary personality disorder types. He identified four adult subtypes of avoidant personality disorder.<ref name="Millon 11">Theodore Millon (2004): Chapter 6 – The Avoidant Personality (p.187). Personality Disorders in Modern Life. Template:Webarchive Wiley, 2nd Edition. Template:ISBN.</ref><ref name="millon.net">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Subtype	Features	Personality traits
Phobic avoidant	Including dependent features	General apprehensiveness displaced with avoidable tangible precipitant; qualms and disquietude symbolized by a repugnant and specific dreadful object or circumstances.
Conflicted avoidant	Including negativistic features	Internal discord and dissension; fears dependence; unsettled; unreconciled within self; hesitating, confused, tormented, paroxysmic, embittered; unresolvable angst.
Hypersensitive avoidant	Including paranoid features	Intensely wary and suspicious; alternately panicky, terrified, edgy, and timorous, then thin-skinned, high-strung, petulant, and prickly.
Self-deserting avoidant	Including depressive features	Blocks or fragments self-awareness; discards painful images and memories; casts away untenable thoughts and impulses; possibly suicidal.<ref name="millon.net"/>

Others

In 1993, Lynn E. Alden and Martha J. Capreol proposed two other subtypes of avoidant personality disorder:<ref>Peter D. McLean, Sheila R. Woody: Anxiety Disorders in Adults: An Evidence-Based Approach to Psychological Treatment. p. 129, Template:ISBN.</ref>

Subtype	Characteristics
Cold-avoidant	Characterised by an inability to experience and express positive emotion towards others.
Exploitable-avoidant	Characterised by an inability to express anger towards others or to resist coercion from others. May be at risk for abuse by others.

Diagnosis

ICD

The World Health Organization's ICD-10 lists avoidant personality disorder as anxious (avoidant) personality disorder (Template:ICD10).

It is characterized by the presence of at least four of the following:<ref name="who.int" />

• persistent and pervasive feelings of tension and apprehension;
• belief that one is socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others;
• excessive preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations;
• unwillingness to become involved with people unless certain of being liked;
• restrictions in lifestyle because of need to have physical security;
• avoidance of social or occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.

Associated features may include hypersensitivity to rejection and criticism.

It is a requirement of ICD-10 that all personality disorder diagnoses also satisfy a set of general personality disorder criteria.

DSM

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association also has an avoidant personality disorder diagnosis (301.82). It refers to a widespread pattern of inhibition around people, feeling inadequate and being very sensitive to negative evaluation. Symptoms begin by early adulthood and occur in a range of situations.

Four of the following seven specific symptoms should be present:<ref name="DSM-5-general personality disorder2" />

• Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection
• is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked
• shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed
• is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations
• is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy
• views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others
• is unusually reluctant to take personal risk or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing

Alternative model

Section III of both the DSM-5 and DSM-5-TR contains the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD). The AMPD defines six specific personality disorders – one of them being AvPD – in terms of a description of the disorder; the characteristic manner in which the disorder impacts personality functioning, i.e. identity, self-direction, empathy and intimacy (criterion A); a listing and description of the pathological personality traits associated with the disorder (criterion B); and a section dedicated to specifiers.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite book</ref>

General personality impairment in individuals with AvPD is, according to the AMPD, characterized by low self-esteem, heightened sensitivity to criticism, and fear of rejection. These individuals tend to withdraw from social interactions, avoid close relationships, and struggle with pursuing personal goals due to feelings of inadequacy. Their perception of others' views is often distorted, reinforcing avoidance behaviors and limiting growth. The AMPD lists this as distributed across the aforementioned elements of personality functioning. At least two of these elements must have a "moderate or greater impairment".<ref name=":6">Template:Cite book</ref>

The AMPD lists the following four pathological traits: anxiousness, withdrawal, anhedonia, and intimacy avoidance; each of these is followed by a description of how the trait manifests in AvPD. A diagnosis requires that three of these traits are present in the subject, with anxiousness being required. The AMPD states that other traits which can occur alongside the aforementioned ones vary substantially, but that they may be included.<ref name=":6" />

The patient must also meet the general criteria C through G for a personality disorder, which state that the traits and symptoms being displayed by the patient must be stable and unchanging over time with an onset of at least adolescence or early adulthood, visible in a variety of situations, not caused by another mental disorder, not caused by a substance or medical condition, and abnormal in comparison to a person's developmental stage and culture/religion.<ref name=":7" />

Differential diagnosis

In contrast to social anxiety disorder, a diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) also requires that the general criteria for a personality disorder be met.

According to the DSM-5, avoidant personality disorder must be differentiated from similar personality disorders such as dependent, paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal. But these can also occur together; this is particularly likely for AvPD and dependent personality disorder. Thus, if criteria for more than one personality disorder are met, all can be diagnosed.<ref name="DSM-5-general personality disorder2" />

There is also an overlap between avoidant and schizoid personality traits and AvPD may have a relationship to the schizophrenia spectrum.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Avoidant personality disorder must also be differentiated from autism spectrum disorder.<ref name=Lehnhardt2013>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Treatment

Treatment of avoidant personality disorder can employ various techniques, such as social skills training, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and exposure treatment to gradually increase social contacts, group therapy for practicing social skills, and sometimes drug therapy.<ref name="Comer 2014 p.">Template:Cite book</ref>

A key issue in treatment is gaining and keeping the patient's trust since people with an avoidant personality disorder will often start to avoid treatment sessions if they distrust the therapist or fear rejection. The primary purpose of both individual therapy and social skills group training is for individuals with an avoidant personality disorder to begin challenging their exaggerated negative beliefs about themselves.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Significant improvement in the symptoms of personality disorders is possible, with the help of treatment and individual effort.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Prognosis

Being a personality disorder, which is usually chronic and has long-lasting mental conditions, an avoidant personality disorder may not improve with time without treatment. Given that it is a poorly studied personality disorder and in light of prevalence rates, societal costs, and the current state of research, AvPD qualifies as a neglected disorder.<ref>Template:Cite journal.</ref>

Controversy

There is debate as to whether avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is distinct from social anxiety disorder. Both have similar diagnostic criteria and may share a similar causation, subjective experience, course, treatment and identical underlying personality features, such as shyness.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

It is contended by some that they are merely different conceptualizations of the same disorder, where avoidant personality disorder may represent the more severe form.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite journal</ref> In particular, those with AvPD experience not only more severe social phobia symptoms, but are also more depressed and more functionally impaired than patients with generalized social phobia alone.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> But they show no differences in social skills or performance on an impromptu speech.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Another difference is that social phobia is the fear of social circumstances whereas AvPD is better described as an aversion to intimacy in relationships.<ref name="Comer 2014 p." />

Epidemiology

Data from the 2001–02 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions indicates a prevalence of 2.36% in the American general population.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It appears to occur with equal frequency in males and females.<ref name="DSM-5">Template:Cite book</ref> In one study, it was seen in 14.7% of psychiatric outpatients.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

History

The avoidant personality has been described in several sources as far back as the early 1900s, although it was not so named for some time. Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler described patients who exhibited signs of avoidant personality disorder in his 1911 work Dementia Praecox: Or the Group of Schizophrenias.<ref name=millon1995>Template:Cite book</ref> Avoidant and schizoid patterns were frequently confused or referred to synonymously until Kretschmer (1921),<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> in providing the first relatively complete description, developed a distinction.

See also

• Attachment theory
• Avoidance coping
• Counterphobic attitude
• Experiential avoidance
• Inferiority complex
• Sensory processing sensitivity

Social:

• Hermit
• Hikikomori
• Loner
• Recluse
• Solitary animal
• Solitude
• Taijin kyofusho