Avoidant Personality Disorder: A Review of Features, Performances, and Treatments

Environment Department, Liaoning University, 110000, Shenyang, China

^* Corresponding author: 20211108228@smail.lnu.edu.cn

Abstract

Past study of avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) cannot compare with other disorders or even its close relative-social anxiety disorder (SAD). What lies in the contrary is the high prevalence of AVPD. The overlap criteria AVPD owns with SAD and dependent personality disorder makes it more difficult in the diagnosis of AVPD. Moreover, the inseparable idea of SAD and AVPD since 1980s highly infect subsequent research of AVPD, causing no target treatment for it. Therefore, the author feels psychiatrists need to rebuild their perspective towards AVPD, instead of treating it as a subsidiary for other disorders. This article reviews current and past literature about AVPD, attempting to summarize features, performances, and treatments of AVPD on the existing basis. In performance aspect, the authors cite high education might be a possible feature of AVPD which is unique among other disorders. The author also tries to introduce attachment theory in the treatment of AVPD and emphasize the promising future of mindfulness therapy. The breakthrough finding of the difference between AVPD and SAD has been found, but no further research has been done unfortunately. This indicates a serious issue of AVPD's study - lack of continuity. More intensive, wide range and specific research of AVPD is needed. AVPD might be despised for its less severe comparing with other disorders but should not be keeping ignore if it is a high prevalence and long-term disorder unresolved.