Cluster C Personality Disorder

1) Avoidant Personality Disorder

Clinical Criteria : The Hallmarks of avoidant Personality Disorder are
pervasive and excessive hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, social
inhibition, and feelings of inadequacy. Diagnostic features also include
at least four of the following:
1) Avoidance of occupational activities that involve significant
interpersonal contact because of fear and criticism, rejection,
or disapproval
2) Unwillingness to be involved with others unless certain of
being liked
3) Restraint in intimate relationships because of the fear of being
shamed or ridiculed
4) Preoccupation of being criticized or rejected in social situation
5) Inhibition in new social situations because of feelings of
inadequacy
6) Reluctance to take personal risks or to engage in any new
activities because they may prove embarrassing
7) View of self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or
inferior to others

Some of associated features include the following:

1) Fearful and tense demeanor

2) Fear of blushing or crying in front of others in response to
criticism
3) Social isolation accompanied by craving social relations and
fantasizing about ideal relationship with others
Complications
Social Phobia

Comorbidity
Increased risk for mood and anxiety disorders ( esp Social
Phobia,generalized type). The most common co-occurring disorders are
Schizotypal, Schizoid, Paranoid, Dependent, and Borderline

Impairment
Can be severe; typically includes occupational and social difficulties

Sex Ratio
According to DSM IV TR this disorder is equally frequent in males and
females

Epidemiology
The DSM IV reports prevalence rates of 0.5 to 1 percent in the general
population
 Course
Frequently begins in childhood with shyness and fear of strangers and
new situations. Disfiguring illness and shyness in childhood predispose
children for this personality disorders

Differential Diagnosis
Avoidant Personality Disorder is very difficult to distinguish from
social phobia.
In Social Phobia, Specific situations rather than interpersonal
contact are avoided
Panic Disorders with Agoraphobia also manifest avoidance but
usually after the onset of panic attacks.
Schizotypal and Schizoid (social isolations of avoidant
personalities is accompanied by the desire for social relations,
which is not observed in Schizotypal and Schizoid)
Paranoid (which is includes guarded attitude , Preoccupation
with hidden meanings, and conspiratorial explanation of benign
events)
Dependent ( which is focused on being taken care of rather than
on the fear of negative evaluation)

2) Dependent Personality Disorder

Clinical Criteria : The Hallmarks of Dependent Personality Disorder are

pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to clinging
behavior, submissiveness, fear of separation and interpersonal
dependency . Diagnostic features also include at least four of the
following: