Avoidant Personality Disorder (AVPD): Pathogenesis and Clinical Findings

 • Restraint - Shows excessive restraint in intimate relations due to fear of criticism, rejection, shame, and being ridiculed

 • Avoids occupational activities - Gets around participating in any occupational activity that involves significant interpersonal contact for fear of disapproval, criticism, or rejection

 • Criticism - Easily hurt by criticism or disapproval to the point that thoughts of these events haunt the person

 • Needy - Unwilling to get involved with people unless they are certain of being liked

 • Inhibition - Inhibited in new relationships because of feelings of inadequacy

 • Avoids personal risks - EXTREMELY reluctant to take personal risks or engage in any new activity because of potential for embarrassment

 • Poor sense of self - Views self as personally unappealing, socially inept, and inferior to others



AVPD Mnemonic: CRINGES

Dx: A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning in early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by >4 of:

 - Criticism or rejection preoccupies thoughts in social situations

 - Restraint in relationships due to fear of shame

 - Inhibited in new relationships

 - Needs to be sure of being liked before engaging socially

 - Gets around occupational activities with need for interpersonal contact

 - Embarrassment prevents new activity or taking risks

 - Self viewed as unappealing or inferior



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