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The relationship between social phobia and avoidant personality disorder: workshop report 3
1Research Unit, Gaustad Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway.
International Clinical Psychopharmacology
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Social phobia and avoidant personality disorder share diagnostic criteria, leading to high comorbidity. Current evidence suggests avoidant personality disorder may exist on a spectrum with social phobia, rather than as a distinct disorder.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Social phobia and avoidant personality disorder were introduced in DSM-III and modified in DSM-III-R.
- High comorbidity rates between these disorders have been noted, potentially due to overlapping diagnostic criteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.
- To evaluate the diagnostic validity of avoidant personality disorder in relation to social phobia.
Main Methods:
- Review of empirical evidence concerning social phobia and avoidant personality disorder.
- Analysis of diagnostic criteria and comorbidity data from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III and DSM-III-R).
Main Results:
- Significant overlap in diagnostic criteria contributes to high comorbidity.
- Research on social phobia is more extensive than on avoidant personality disorder.
- Empirical evidence supports a spectrum model where avoidant personality disorder is part of social phobia.
Conclusions:
- The precise relationship between social phobia and avoidant personality disorder remains unclear due to limited research on the latter.
- Current evidence suggests avoidant personality disorder may not be a distinct diagnosis but rather a manifestation within the social phobia spectrum.