TY - JOUR

T1 - Social anxiety disorder and avoidant Personality disorder from an interpersonal perspective

AU - Frandsen, Frederik Weischer

AU - Simonsen, Sebastian

AU - Poulsen, Stig Bernt

AU - Sørensen, Per

AU - Lau, Marianne Engelbrecht

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - ObjectivesThe general objective of this article is to study the unclear and overlapping relationship between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) from an interpersonal perspective. The first specific objective is to compare the disorders with regard to interpersonal problems and general symptom distress. The second specific objective is to examine interpersonal subgroups and pathoplasticity.DesignIn a cross‐sectional design, patients from an outpatient psychotherapy clinic diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD, n = 299), avoidant personality disorder (AvPD, n = 180), or the comorbid condition of both disorders (AvPD + SAD, n = 29) were assessed before treatment.MethodsPatients filled out the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP‐64) and the Symptom Checklist‐Revised (SCL‐R‐90) before treatment.Results and ConclusionsFrom an interpersonal perspective, the relationship between the diagnostic groups is well described by the severity continuum hypothesis, with similar interpersonal problems related to Nonassertiveness and lower levels of general interpersonal stress in the SAD group compared to the two AvPD groups. However, other differences in severity do not fit the severity continuum hypothesis, as there are no differences in severity on the global severity index, and, moreover, the SAD group has the most severe problems on the SCL‐90 phobic anxiety scale. Interpersonal pathoplasticity is not found in the diagnostic groups or in the full sample. However, three interpersonal subgroups are identified in the full sample, designated as Nonassertive, Friendly‐submissive, and Cold‐submissive. Implications for treatment are discussed.

AB - ObjectivesThe general objective of this article is to study the unclear and overlapping relationship between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) from an interpersonal perspective. The first specific objective is to compare the disorders with regard to interpersonal problems and general symptom distress. The second specific objective is to examine interpersonal subgroups and pathoplasticity.DesignIn a cross‐sectional design, patients from an outpatient psychotherapy clinic diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD, n = 299), avoidant personality disorder (AvPD, n = 180), or the comorbid condition of both disorders (AvPD + SAD, n = 29) were assessed before treatment.MethodsPatients filled out the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP‐64) and the Symptom Checklist‐Revised (SCL‐R‐90) before treatment.Results and ConclusionsFrom an interpersonal perspective, the relationship between the diagnostic groups is well described by the severity continuum hypothesis, with similar interpersonal problems related to Nonassertiveness and lower levels of general interpersonal stress in the SAD group compared to the two AvPD groups. However, other differences in severity do not fit the severity continuum hypothesis, as there are no differences in severity on the global severity index, and, moreover, the SAD group has the most severe problems on the SCL‐90 phobic anxiety scale. Interpersonal pathoplasticity is not found in the diagnostic groups or in the full sample. However, three interpersonal subgroups are identified in the full sample, designated as Nonassertive, Friendly‐submissive, and Cold‐submissive. Implications for treatment are discussed.

U2 - 10.1111/papt.12214

DO - 10.1111/papt.12214

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30656823

VL - 93

SP - 88

EP - 104

JO - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

JF - Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

SN - 1476-0835

IS - 1

ER -