psychiatric disorders
Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD)
Introduction
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. (See also Overview of Personality Disorders .) People with avoidant personality disorder have intense feelings of inadequacy and cope maladaptively by avoiding any situations in which they may be evaluated negatively. Reported prevalence of avoidant personality disorder in the United States varies, but estimated prevalence is about 2.1% ( General references ). In community surveys, avoidant personality disorder affects females more often than males, though the difference is small ( are common. Patients often also have Major depressive disorder (unipolar depressive disorder) , persistent depressive disorder, 