Cluster C Personality Disorders

Cluster C personality disorders resemble anxiety and are sometimes called the "worried group." They include:

• Dependent Personality Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)
• Avoidant Personality Disorder

General Characteristics

• Similarities: Superficial similarities within the cluster.
• Clinical Attention: Sometimes come to clinical attention, unlike Cluster A (rarely) or Cluster B (often).

Dependent Personality Disorder

• Characteristics:
  • Over-reliance on others for decisions and responsibilities.
  • Fear of being alone and constant need for reassurance.
  • High agreeableness becomes maladaptive (e.g., trust to gullibility).
• Cognitive Biases: "I am ineffective and can't do anything on my own."
• Treatment: Poorly studied; focus on cognitive biases and promoting independence.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

• Characteristics:
  • Need for orderliness and control.
  • Maladaptive perfectionism and rigidity.
  • Egocentronic nature (belief that their way is the right way).
• Ocean Traits: High conscientiousness, low openness.
• Treatment:
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reduce rigidity.
  • Interpersonal therapy for relational effects.
  • Reluctance in seeking treatment due to egocentronic nature.

Avoidant Personality Disorder

• Characteristics:
  • Avoidance of social interaction despite desire for connection.
  • Fear of disapproval and self-doubt.
  • Similar symptoms to Social Anxiety Disorder.
• Comorbidity: Over 90% with social anxiety disorder.
• Genetic Links and Treatment:
  • Responds to serotonin-boosting medications and CBT.
• Conceptualization: More aligned with chronic social anxiety disorder rather than a personality disorder.

Conclusion

• Personality disorders in DSM have categorial problems, but understanding personality traits aids in diagnostic evaluation.
• Next topic: Antisocial Personality Disorder.