Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiagnostic CriteriaSymptoms and TraitsCausesMedicationTherapySupport and Resources
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diagnostic Criteria
Symptoms and Traits
Causes
Medication
Therapy
Support and Resources
Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a personality disorder listed in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5).Symptoms or traits include feelings of inadequacy, fear of criticism or rejection, social anxiety, and avoiding or severely restricting social interactions and new life experiences.
Psychiatrists diagnose personality disorders, but other mental health professionals working under social health models may provide different diagnoses and perspectives.
This article discusses AVPD, including nuances of high functioning AVPD. We’ll also cover the standard treatment options for AVPD, and offer a trauma-informed lens to understanding the characteristic signs and symptoms of AVPD.
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10 Types of Personality Disorders
Official Avoidant Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria
Avoidant personality disorder is said to lead to distress, impairment, and disability.Getting a diagnosis can help determine next steps for treatment. The criteria for an official avoidant personality disorder diagnosis involve assessing whether or not a person meets at least four of the seven characteristic traits of avoidant personality disorder.
Psychiatrists may provide an official avoidant personality disorder diagnosis after asking a series of questions about:
During the diagnostic process, a physical and medical exam will also rule out other underlying conditions contributing to behavior changes or deviations.
Defining the Avoidant Attachment Style
Symptoms and Traits of Someone With AVPD
Signs of personality disorders typically start to present in adolescence or early adulthood.
7 Traits of AVPD
According to the DSM-5, the seven traits associated with AVPD include:
Social Anxiety Disorder or AVPD?Some mental health models see avoidant personality disorder as an extreme expression or severe variant of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Research suggests the core overlap of social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder is nonassertiveness; the difference is social anxiety disorder is associated with lower levels of social distress than avoidant personality disorder and higher levels of phobic anxiety.
Social Anxiety Disorder or AVPD?
Some mental health models see avoidant personality disorder as an extreme expression or severe variant of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Research suggests the core overlap of social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder is nonassertiveness; the difference is social anxiety disorder is associated with lower levels of social distress than avoidant personality disorder and higher levels of phobic anxiety.
Anxiety Disorders
Causes: What Does AVPD Stem From?
AVPD or PTSD-C (CPTSD)?There is an established link between personality disorders and exposure to trauma.Some mental health professionals may talk about symptoms or traits ofcomplex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD-C)instead of avoidant personality disorder. However, a defining feature of PTSD-C includes emotional flashbacks of the trauma and distressing,vivid nightmares. These are not part of the diagnostic criteria for avoidant personality disorder.
AVPD or PTSD-C (CPTSD)?
There is an established link between personality disorders and exposure to trauma.Some mental health professionals may talk about symptoms or traits ofcomplex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD-C)instead of avoidant personality disorder. However, a defining feature of PTSD-C includes emotional flashbacks of the trauma and distressing,vivid nightmares. These are not part of the diagnostic criteria for avoidant personality disorder.
Medications to Help With AVPD
There are no medications to treat avoidant personality disorder. However, if someone is experiencingsocial anxiety,generalized anxiety, ordepression. In addition to avoidant personality disorder, they may be prescribed antianxiety or antidepressant medication to help reduce symptom severity.
Similarities and Differences Between Zoloft and Prozac
How to Address AVPD in Therapy
Addressing avoidant personality disorder in therapy can help to determine what’s triggering your symptoms and prepare you with tools for expanding their social skills and building self-esteem and confidence.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common method for addressing avoidant personality disorder symptoms and traits. CBT is about gaining new insight into your thinking patterns and how they may have affected your work or school, relationships, health, and more. Then, it’s about learning new tools and strategies for shifting the thinking that influences the behavior and helps develop deeper self-confidence.
In addition to talk therapy,eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy(EMDR) is an option for trauma processing, which can help reduce symptoms of traumatic stress and chronic traumatic stress.
The 8 Best Online Therapy Services for Anxiety
The following support and resources may be helpful for someone experiencing symptoms and traits of avoidant personality disorder, anxiety and depression, or PTSD-C:
If you or a loved one is struggling with AVPD, anxiety, depression, or PTSD-C, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Summary
Therapy can help someone gain insight into their thought and behavioral patterns in order to make desired life changes. Medication can help reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of AVPD, consulting with your healthcare provider or mental health professional can help shed light on potential causes and treatment options.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lampe L, Malhi GS.Avoidant personality disorder: Current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2018;11:55-66. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S121073American Psychological Association.What are personality disorders?American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Frandsen FW, Simonsen S, Poulsen S, Sørensen P, Lau ME.Social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder from an interpersonal perspective.Psychol Psychother.2020;93(1):88-104.American Psychological Association.What causes trauma?Medline Plus.Avoidant personality disorder.American Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?NHS.Complex PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lampe L, Malhi GS.Avoidant personality disorder: Current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2018;11:55-66. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S121073American Psychological Association.What are personality disorders?American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Frandsen FW, Simonsen S, Poulsen S, Sørensen P, Lau ME.Social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder from an interpersonal perspective.Psychol Psychother.2020;93(1):88-104.American Psychological Association.What causes trauma?Medline Plus.Avoidant personality disorder.American Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?NHS.Complex PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lampe L, Malhi GS.Avoidant personality disorder: Current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2018;11:55-66. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S121073American Psychological Association.What are personality disorders?American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.Frandsen FW, Simonsen S, Poulsen S, Sørensen P, Lau ME.Social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder from an interpersonal perspective.Psychol Psychother.2020;93(1):88-104.American Psychological Association.What causes trauma?Medline Plus.Avoidant personality disorder.American Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?NHS.Complex PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder.
Lampe L, Malhi GS.Avoidant personality disorder: Current insights.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2018;11:55-66. doi:10.2147/PRBM.S121073
American Psychological Association.What are personality disorders?
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC; 2013.
Frandsen FW, Simonsen S, Poulsen S, Sørensen P, Lau ME.Social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder from an interpersonal perspective.Psychol Psychother.2020;93(1):88-104.
American Psychological Association.What causes trauma?
Medline Plus.Avoidant personality disorder.
American Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
NHS.Complex PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder.
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