ABSTRACT
Historically, avoidant personality disorder found its way into DSM-III amid considerable controversy. Several individuals contended that there was little distinction between avoidant personality disorder and schizoid and dependent personality disorders (Gunderson, 1983). However, criteria in DSM-IV has been modified to differentiate the three sufficiently. Essentially, avoidant patients long for close interpersonal relations but fear humiliation, rejection, and embarrassment, so they avoid and distance themselves from others. Schizoid patients, on the other hand, have little or no desire for close interpersonal relationships, which accounts for their distancing and avoidance of others. Similarly, while dependent personality-disordered individuals may be timid, submissive, and clinging due to an excessive need for attachment, avoidant personality-disordered individuals are characterized by fear of humiliation and rejection that results in social timidity and withdrawal.
