Avoidant Personality – Underdiagnosed and Undertreated

Relatively little has been written on Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) on its own. This webinar will focus on APD, a disorder of social fears and avoidance. Avoidant Personality Disorder is seldom diagnosed except as a secondary diagnosis and then is often not the focus of treatment. For those with APD who receive treatment, social fears are the focus of treatment only half of the time.

The relationship to Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is considered a close one and the personality disorder section of the DSM 5 indicates they may be the same disorder. Genetic and factor analytic studies suggest that it is possible that these disorders represent a dimensional personality disorder which at its milder end is currently called SAD while at its more severe end called APD. 

Although APD is of interest to researchers, this webinar introduces clinicians to APD, review it’s prevalence, and discuss psychological and pharmacological treatment approaches.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participant will be able to describe the morbidity of Avoidant Personality Disorder.
2. Participant will be able to explain how Avoidant Personality Disorder is a valid personality disorder that can be viewed dimensionally.
3. Participant will be able to discuss why Avoidant Personality Disorder may be undertreated in clinical practice.
4. Participant will be able to revise his/her opinion of how often Avoidant Personality Disorder needs to be addressed and treated in clinical practice.