Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesImpactTreatmentCoping

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Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Impact

Treatment

Coping

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Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is an enduring pattern of behavior related tosocial inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and sensitivity torejectionthat causes problems in work situations and relationships.

AVPD is often associated with other mental health conditions likeanxiety disorders, in particular, social anxiety disorder. People with the disorder show a pattern of avoidance due tofear of rejectionor disapproval, which they experience as extremely painful. The disorder affects about 2.5% of the population, with roughly equal numbers of men and women being afflicted.

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Symptoms of Avoidant Personality Disorder

The following is a list of common symptoms associated with avoidant personality disorder:

RecapThe three primary symptoms of avoidant personality disorder are feelings of inadequacy, social inhibition, and excessive sensitivity to rejection or criticism.

Recap

The three primary symptoms of avoidant personality disorder are feelings of inadequacy, social inhibition, and excessive sensitivity to rejection or criticism.

Diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder is typically diagnosed in adults, as children’s personalities are still developing and behaviors such as shyness can be normal experiences in childhood that are later outgrown.

Avoidant Personality Disorder vs. Social Anxiety Disorder

Avoidant personality disorder can seem very similar tosocial anxiety disorder, with some overlap in symptoms. However, they are distinct conditions that have different causes.

Social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder share similar symptoms and genetics, and AVPD is sometimes characterized as a more severe form of social anxiety.

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What Triggers Avoidant Personality Disorder?

The causes of avoidant personality disorder are thought to involve genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors. Some factors that can play a part in the development of the condition include:

Often, individuals with the disorder are very shy as children and do not outgrow this shyness as they age. Children who are high in behavioral inhibition may be more likely to have negative social experiences, which play a part in the development of thought patterns that increase their risk for developing AVPD.

Avoidant personality disorder may co-occur and overlap with a variety of other conditions, including:

How Serious Is Avoidant Personality Disorder?

Unfortunately, the outlook for people with avoidant personality disorder who do not seek treatment is rather bleak. Typically, they become self-isolated and use avoidance as their only coping strategy.

People with the condition may have few relationships and often become very isolated. This often leads to other long-term difficulties, including problems with work and school.

It is not uncommon for people with this condition to avoid school or occupations that involve a lot of social contact. People with the condition may be more likely to experience alcohol and substance use disorders.

Do people with AVPD want relationships?Some people with avoidant personality disorder want to form relationships with others, but they find them very difficult to maintain. Some research suggests that people with the condition long for connection but fear and dread getting close.

Do people with AVPD want relationships?

Some people with avoidant personality disorder want to form relationships with others, but they find them very difficult to maintain. Some research suggests that people with the condition long for connection but fear and dread getting close.

Treatment of Avoidant Personality Disorder

Most people with avoidant personality disorder do not seek treatment.When they do, it is often for a specific life problem they are experiencing or other types of symptoms such as depression and anxiety, and they will usually discontinue treatment if that problem is resolved.

Like other personality disorders, avoidant personality disorder can be difficult to treat because it is an enduring pattern of behavior. It can be difficult for the person living with the disorder to recognize that psychotherapeutic help is needed and can be beneficial.

Successful treatment can help to reduce symptoms and increase the range of coping strategies that the person can use to manage their anxiety. A person with avoidant personality disorder will probably always be somewhat shy, but avoidance won’t dominate their thoughts.

Talk Therapy

Talk therapy for avoidant personality disorder may includecognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and schema therapy.Group therapy and social skills training may also be helpful.

CBT helps people learn how to change unhelpful thinking patterns. while psychodynamic therapy is aimed at being aware of how past experiences, pain, and conflict may be contributing to current symptoms.

Schema therapyfor avoidant personality disorder is an integrative approach that builds on CBT as well as many other therapeutic techniques. It has a focus on the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, and a goal of improving daily functioning and gaining insight for change based on understanding and re-engineering of early life experiences.

A key feature of schema therapy is “limitedreparenting,” in which the client expresses childhood needs and learns to develop and internalize a healthy parent voice.

Main Concepts of Schema TherapyIn schema therapy, the client learns about four main concepts:How maladaptive schemas are patterns that are repeated throughout life. These patterns are grouped into five areas: disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, impaired limits, excessive responsibility and standards, over-vigilance, and inhibition.What coping styles were learned as a child (e.g., escape, fighting back).What schema modes are being used to cope and how they are unhelpful (e.g., avoidance, detachment, compliance, punishment).How to develop healthy adult modes of coping and get core emotional needs met.

Main Concepts of Schema Therapy

In schema therapy, the client learns about four main concepts:How maladaptive schemas are patterns that are repeated throughout life. These patterns are grouped into five areas: disconnection and rejection, impaired autonomy and performance, impaired limits, excessive responsibility and standards, over-vigilance, and inhibition.What coping styles were learned as a child (e.g., escape, fighting back).What schema modes are being used to cope and how they are unhelpful (e.g., avoidance, detachment, compliance, punishment).How to develop healthy adult modes of coping and get core emotional needs met.

In schema therapy, the client learns about four main concepts:

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Medication

While there are currently no medications specifically approved for treating avoidant personality disorder, if a person has other related disorders such as depression or anxiety, medication may be prescribed to help with those symptoms.

For example, antidepressant medication can be helpful for improving mood and anhedonia, decreasing anxiety symptoms, and may also reducesensitivity to rejection.

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Coping With Avoidant Personality Disorder

One of the first steps in improving quality of life with avoidant personality disorder is to recognize the signs. By understanding your specific symptoms, you’ll be able to better work with your therapist to find ways to work around them.

Consider involving friends and family in your therapy, too, so they have a better understanding of what you’re going through and how to help.

Self-care is also essential, including finding healthy coping skills that prevent you turn to drugs or alcohol, smoking, overeating, or self-harm when you’re having a hard time.

If you think someone you know or love may be living with avoidant personality disorder symptoms, it is important to encourage that person to seek help. Without professional treatment such as talk therapy, it is unlikely that the symptoms and their related impacts on relationships will improve.

If you or a loved one are struggling with avoidant personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with avoidant personality disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

15 Sources

Verywell Mind 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.

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American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition.Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013.National Institute of Mental Health.Personality disorders.Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Czajkowski N, Torgersen S, et al.The relationship between avoidant personality disorder and social phobia: a population-based twin study.Am J Psychiatry. 2007;164(11):1722-8. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06101764Reich J.Avoidant personality disorder and its relationship to social phobia.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2009;11(1):89-93. doi:10.1007/s11920-009-0014-0Weinbrecht A, Schulze L, Boettcher J, Renneberg B.Avoidant personality disorder: A current review.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(3):29. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0665-6

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Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Czajkowski N, Torgersen S, et al.The relationship between avoidant personality disorder and social phobia: a population-based twin study.Am J Psychiatry. 2007;164(11):1722-8. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06101764

Reich J.Avoidant personality disorder and its relationship to social phobia.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2009;11(1):89-93. doi:10.1007/s11920-009-0014-0

Weinbrecht A, Schulze L, Boettcher J, Renneberg B.Avoidant personality disorder: A current review.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(3):29. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0665-6

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