AVPD is often comorbid with depression and substance abuse, and is likely to be associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation and attempts,2,6,9 explaining, perhaps in part, why AVPD may be a significant predictor of chronic depression.
Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by feelings of extreme social inhibition, inadequacy, and sensitivity to negative criticism and rejection. Yet the symptoms involve more than simply being shy or socially awkward.
Avoidant Personality Comorbidities
According to the DSM-5, the conditions that are most often diagnosed along with AVPD include depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety disorder.
Avoidant Personality Disorder is a Separable Schizophrenia Spectrum Personality Disorder even when Controlling for the Presence of Paranoid and Schizotypal Personality Disorders - PMC. The .
It is estimated that about 2.4% of the U.S. population has avoidant personality disorder. It appears to affect men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) equally.
AVPD is often comorbid with depression and substance abuse, and is likely to be associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation and attempts,2,6,9 explaining, perhaps in part, why AVPD may be a significant predictor of chronic depression.
Complications of avoidant personality disorder
Without treatment people with avoidant personality disorder may end up living a life in near or total isolation. This can result in them getting a second psychiatric disorder such as substance abuse or depression. This can stop them living life to its full potential.
The three primary symptoms of avoidant personality disorder are feelings of inadequacy, social inhibition, and excessive sensitivity to rejection or criticism.
Cluster C personality disorders are characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behavior. They include avoidant personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Genetics alone cannot explain why some people develop AVPD, because it's possible to have a family history and never have this condition. Researchers suggest that there are early childhood experiences that contribute to avoidant behaviors and personality disorders.
In the case of AVPD, people who have if often have borderline personality disorder as well, with studies suggesting that more than 40 percent of men and women with BPD will also meet the criteria for avoidant personality disorder.
What is the most effective treatment for avoidant personality disorder? Currently, cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered the most effective treatment for symptoms associated with avoidant personality disorder. Including family members in therapy can result in a better support system for those with AVPD.
People with avoidant personality disorder (APD) have a lifelong pattern of extreme shyness. They also feel inadequate and are hypersensitive to rejection. APD can cause psychiatric symptoms that create serious problems with relationships and work.
Some avoidant personality disorder symptoms can get worse when left untreated. Avoiding others may continue to seem like the only safe way to cope with intensifying fears of rejection and disapproval. Even work and everyday errands might become so overwhelming that you end up isolating yourself completely.
Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by the avoidance of social situations or interactions that involve risk of rejection, criticism, or humiliation. Diagnosis is by clinical criteria. Treatment is with psychotherapy, anxiolytics, and antidepressants.
Avoidance is typically considered a maladaptive behavioral response to excessive fear and anxiety, leading to the maintenance of anxiety disorders. Exposure is a core element of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders.
With symptoms of extremely low self-esteem and debilitating withdrawal, avoidant personality disorder is more severe in daily life than social anxiety.
Prevalence of Avoidant Personality Disorder
However, some studies have estimated its incidence to be as low as 0.8% or as high as 9.3%. Some studies, but not all, found that a higher number of women had the condition than men.
Avoidants are not all narcissists but they do have an ability to detach emotionally from the relationship which triggers an “anxious” person's attachment anxiety.
Parents who are strict and emotionally distant, do not tolerate the expression of feelings, and expect their child to be independent and tough might raise children with an avoidant attachment style.
High levels of avoidance
They fear closeness to their partners and avoid them because of the possibility of rejection. They don't feel comfortable getting close to others. Avoidant adults worry about being hurt if they allow themselves to become too close to others.
The avoidant personality seems to desire affection and acceptance, but doesn't know how to fully experience or obtain it. Symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder includes: Avoids activities that include contact with others because of fear of criticism, rejection, or feelings of inadequacy.
An estimated 2.5 percent of people have it, and it's rarely diagnosed before adulthood. The cause of avoidant personality disorder is still unknown, but researchers have seen this condition run in families, even when family members don't live with each other. This suggests it may be both genetic and environmental.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and avoidant personality disorder (APD) both share a number of similar symptoms, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis. Both disorders involve intense fear of criticism and rejection, with a high level of emotional distress that can affect daily life.