CLUSTER C

PERSONALITY
DISORDERS
AVOIDANT PERSONALITY
DISORDER

People with Avoidant Personality Disorder

experience extreme social inhibition,
feelings of inadequacy, and are hypersensitive
to negative evaluation. They tend to avoid
social interactions due to fear of criticism,
rejection, or embarrassment.
Core clinical features

1. Extreme social inhibition and avoidance of

social situations.
2. Hypersensitivity to rejection, criticism, and
negative evaluation.
3. Pervasive feelings of inadequacy and
inferiority.
4. Avoidance of new activities due to fear of
failure or embarrassment.
5. Desire for acceptance, but avoidance due
to fear of embarrassment.
Extreme Social Inhibition

INDIVIDUALSAVOID SITUATIONS FEAR OF BEING JUDGED UNLIKE SCHIZOID INDIVIDUALS,

REQUIRING INTERPERSONAL NEGATIVELY OR REJECTED IN THOSE WITH AVPD DESIRE SOCIAL
CONTACT, ESPECIALLY WITH SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. CONTACT BUT AVOID IT OUT OF
FEAR.
UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE.
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5)

Pervasive pattern of social

inhibition, feelings of inadequacy,
and hypersensitivity to negative
evaluation.

Must meet at least four of the

following criteria (include DSM-5
criteria).

Highlight: Avoids occupational and

social activities due to fear of
rejection or criticism.
DIFFERNTIAL DIAGNOSIS

Schizoid Personality Dependent

Social Anxiety Disorder: Lack of Personality
Disorder: Fear is desire for Disorder: Dependent
situation-specific, relationships, unlike on others to avoid
whereas AvPD is AVPD where abandonment, while
pervasive. relationships are AVPD is rooted in fear
desired but avoided. of rejection.
TREATMENT

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY GROUP THERAPY: PROVIDES SAFE MEDICATIONS: SSRIS AND ANTI-
(CBT): FOCUSES ON ADDRESSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY MEDICATIONS FOR COMORBID
NEGATIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS AND INTERACTION AND FEEDBACK. ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION.
SOCIAL AVOIDANCE.
 KEY CLINICAL FEATURES

Excessive reliance on others for

emotional and decision-making
DEPENDENT support.
Intense fear of abandonment and
PERSONALIT difficulty being alone.

Y DISORDER Difficulty making everyday decisions

without input from others.

Avoidance of personal responsibility

due to fear of independence.
Reliance on Others

Individuals with DPD rely Even for simple decisions, they They feel anxious and helpless
heavily on others for guidance, need advice or approval. when alone or when they fear
support, and reassurance. losing their caregiver.
FEAR OF ABANDONMENT

Urgent need to establish

Extreme fear of Clinging behavior aimed
new relationships when a
separation from at avoiding
close one ends to avoid
significant others. abandonment.
feelings of helplessness.
 Difficulty making
decisions
independently without
excessive
reassurance.

Difficulty Reluctance to take

initiative or
Making responsibility due to
lack of self-confidence.
Decisions
They often allow others
to take control of major
areas of their life.
 Reluctant to assume
personal responsibilities,
including at work or in
personal life.

Avoidance of They often defer to others to

Responsibilit avoid the stress of decision-
making.
y
Fear of independence drives
avoidance of responsibility.
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5)

Pervasive and Examples: Difficulty

excessive need to be Must meet at least making decisions
taken care of, leading five of the following without reassurance,
to submissive and criteria (include DSM-5 need for others to
clinging behavior and criteria here). assume responsibility,
fear of separation. fear of being alone.
 Differential Diagnosis
Avoidant Personality Disorder: Both involve fear of
rejection, but AvPD involves avoidance, while DPD
involves clinging to relationships.

Borderline Personality Disorder: Similar fear of

abandonment, but BPD has more emotional instability
and impulsivity.

Histrionic Personality Disorder: Both seek approval,

but DPD is more passive and dependent, whereas
histrionic individuals are more attention-seeking.
TREATMENT

1 2 3
Psychotherapy: Cognitive Assertiveness Training: Medications:
Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Teaches individuals how to Antidepressants or anti-
helps individuals develop express their needs and anxiety medications may
self-reliance and confidence take responsibility without be used to manage
in decision-making. relying on others. symptoms of anxiety or
depression related to
dependence.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY
DISORDER

OCPD IS A CLUSTER C PERSONALITY PEOPLE WITH OCPD ARE

DISORDER MARKED BY A PERVASIVE OFTEN RIGID, OVERLY
PATTERN OF PREOCCUPATION FOCUSED ON RULES, AND
WITH ORDERLINESS, EXCESSIVELY DEVOTED TO
WORK.
PERFECTIONISM, AND CONTROL.
 Excessive
devotion to
Preoccupation
work and
with order,
productivity, at
perfectionism,
the expense of
Core and control.
leisure and
relationships.

Clinical
Difficulty
Features Inflexibility
regarding
moral, ethical,
delegating
tasks and
reluctance to
or value-based
work with
issues.
others.
 OCPD individuals are excessively
focused on details, rules, and
schedules.

Perfectionis Their perfectionism interferes with task

m and completion because they are unable to
meet their own standards.
Control
They may be reluctant to delegate
tasks or work with others due to fear
that others will not meet their exacting
standards.
 Extreme need for orderliness in
personal and professional settings.

Preoccupation Inflexibility when it comes to

with Order and changing established routines or
adapting to new methods.
Rules
They insist on doing things their
way, making them overly
controlling and rigid in relationships
and workplaces.
 Individuals with OCPD are often
described as workaholics, excessively
dedicated to tasks, at the expense of
social and family life.

Workaholis They may avoid taking vacations or

m and breaks, fearing that doing so would
lead to loss of control or productivity.
Productivity
Leisure activities and relaxation are
seen as a waste of time unless they
are productive or perfect.
 OCPD individuals often avoid working
with others, as they believe others are
incapable of performing tasks correctly.
Difficulty
Delegating When they do delegate, they closely
monitor and micromanage others to
and ensure tasks are done "properly.“

Collaboration This rigidity often leads to

interpersonal difficulties and workplace
conflicts.
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5)
•Pervasive preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and
interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency.

•Must meet at least four of the following criteria (list DSM-5 criteria):

•Preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, or schedules.

•Perfectionism that interferes with task completion.
•Excessive devotion to work and productivity.
•Over-conscientiousness and inflexibility about moral issues.
•Inability to discard worn-out or worthless items.
•Reluctance to delegate tasks to others.
•Miserly spending style toward both self and others.
•Rigidity and stubbornness.
 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD): OCD involves intrusive thoughts
and compulsive behaviors, while OCPD is
a personality style focused on control and
perfectionism.
Avoidant Personality Disorder: OCPD
Differential individuals are more focused on control
and work productivity, while avoidant

Diagnosis individuals avoid social situations out of

fear of rejection.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
Narcissistic individuals seek admiration
and approval, while OCPD is characterized
by a strict adherence to rules and control
over outcomes.
 Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) helps individuals
challenge rigid thinking and develop
healthier coping mechanisms.

Relaxation Techniques: Strategies to

reduce tension, such as mindfulness,
TREATMENT meditation, or progressive muscle
relaxation.

Medications: Selective serotonin

reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be
prescribed to reduce anxiety or
depressive symptoms related to OCPD.