Anxious Personality Disorders: Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive

Individuals with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions, distorted self-perception, and/or behavioral impulsiveness.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

Individuals with these disorders often appear anxious or fearful, and like the other personality disorders, the generalized patterns described below typically begin in early adulthood, and are present in various contexts.

An individual with Avoidant Personality Disorder typically is socially inhibited, feels inadequate, and is oversensitive to criticism, as indicated by four (or more) of the following (from DSM IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994):

     1.avoids work-related activities that involve much 
       social contact, because of fears of criticism, 
       disapproval, or rejection

     2.is unwilling to get involved with people unless 
       certain of being liked

     3.fears of shame or ridicule lead to excessive 
       shyness within intimate relationships

     4.is overly concerned with criticism and rejection 
       in social situations

     5.is inhibited in new social situations because of 
       feelings of inadequacy

     6.views self as socially incompetent, personally 
       unappealing, or inferior to others

     7.unusually reluctant to take personal risks or 
       do new activities because of fear of embarrassment



Dependent Personality
Personality Disorders Main Page