Cluster C

 Anxious and fearful

 Fear of rejection or being criticized by others
– Avoidant PD
– Dependent PD
– Obsessive-compulsive PD
Avoidant Personality Disorder

 Extremely anxious about being criticized by

others, so avoid interactions with others in which
there is this possibility
 Crave relationships with others, but feel unworthy
 Avoidant PD (continued)
 Terrified of saying something that will
embarrass them
 Choose professions that allow them to avoid
other people
 View themselves in general as inadequate
 Often leads to depression and anxiety
Causes & Treatment of Avoidant
PD
 Developed dysfunctional beliefs about
being worthless as a result of rejection by
caregivers as children
 Graduated exposure to social settings
 Social skills training
 Challenging negative automatic thoughts
about social situations
 Dependent PD

 Excessive need to be cared for by others

 Excessive need to please others
 Dependent PD (continued)
 May be willing to submit to extremely
unreasonable demands, and frantically cling
to others
 Can not make decisions for themselves
 Fear rejection and abandonment is so
strong, they may allow themselves to be
exploited or abused
 Depression and anxiety are common
 Causes & Treatment for
Dependent PD
 Extremely overprotective parenting
 Unlike most other PD’s, people with dependent
PD are likely to seek treatment
 CBT
– Assertiveness training
– Challenging irrational thoughts - need to rely on others
for almost anything
– Gradually increasing independent choices
– Careful to avoid therapist dependence
Obsessive-Compulsive PD
 Concerned with self-
control, attention to detail,
perseverance, and
reliability
 Some of these traits may
be valued
 However, they are also
rigid, perfectionistic,
dogmatic, and ruminative
 Are tensely in control of
their emotions
Causes & Treatment of OCPD
 Extremely strict and disciplinary parents
 CBT – Challenging the rigidity of schedules
and the necessity of perfection