Here are the diagnostic criteria for Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD), taken from the DSM-IV and the ICD-10 World Health Organization classification. US definition   European definition The symptoms of APD may appear to overlap with those of Generalized Social Anxiety, and many people with SA will be able to relate to the description below.

What is SA? Introduction More information Treatments Definitions   » Social anxiety   » Avoidant Personality

Opinions vary as to where SA ends and APD begins, although with APD the emphasis is perhaps more on deeply ingrained thought patterns and beliefs, than actual anxiety. Diagnostic Criteria A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following: - avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection - is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked - shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed - is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations - is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy - views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others - is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing Associated Features - Depressed Mood - Anxious/Fearful/Dependent Personality Differential Diagnosis Social Phobia, Generalized Type; Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia; Dependent Personality Disorder; Schizoid Personality Disorder; Schizotypal Personality Disorder; Paranoid Personality Disorder; Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition; symptoms that may develop in association with chronic substance use. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Version, 1994 © American Psychiatrists Association Personality disorder characterized by at least three of the following: (a) persistent and pervasive feelings of tension and apprehension (b) belief that one is socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others (c) excessive preoccupation with being criticized or rejected in social situations (d) unwillingness to become involved with people unless certain of being liked (e) restrictions in lifestyle because of need to have physical security (f) avoidance of social or occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection. Associated features may include hypersensitivity to rejection and criticism. Personality Disorders A personality disorder is a severe disturbance in the characterological constitution and behavioural tendencies of the individual, usually involving several areas of the personality, and nearly always associated with considerable personal and social disruption. Personality disorder tends to appear in late childhood or adolescence and continues to be manifest into adulthood. It is therefore unlikely that the diagnosis of personality disorder will be appropriate before the age of 16 or 17 years. General diagnostic guidelines applying to all personality disorders are presented below; supplementary descriptions are provided with each of the subtypes. Diagnostic Guidelines Conditions not directly attributable to gross brain damage or disease, or to another psychiatric disorder, meeting the following criteria: (a) markedly dysharmonious attitudes and behaviour, involving usually several areas of functioning, e.g. affectivity, arousal, impulse control, ways of perceiving and thinking, and style of relating to others; (b) the abnormal behaviour pattern is enduring, of long standing, and not limited to episodes of mental illness; (c) the abnormal behaviour pattern is pervasive and clearly maladaptive to a broad range of personal and social situations; (d) the above manifestations always appear during childhood or adolescence and continue into adulthood; (e) the disorder leads to considerable personal distress but this may only become apparent late in its course; (f) the disorder is usually, but not invariably, associated with significant problems in occupational and social performance. For different cultures it may be necessary to develop specific sets of criteria with regard to social norms, rules and obligations. For diagnosing most of the subtypes listed below, clear evidence is usually required of the presence of at least three of the traits or behaviours given in the clinical description. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders World Health Organization, Geneva, 1992 - © 1992 by World Health Organization.

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