Avoidant Personality Disorder Statistics and Prevalence

Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by extreme social inhibition (shyness), feelings of inadequacy, and acute sensitivity to actual or perceived rejection. While most people have certainly feelings of insecurity, for people with avoidant personality disorder these feelings are extremely intense and lead to an avoidance of social interaction that negatively impacts their day-to-day life.

Key Statistics of Avoidant Personality Disorder

1. According to the DSM-IV-TR, avoidant personality disorder occurs in approximately 0.5% to 1% of the general population.
2. Avoidant personality disorder is seen in about 10% of psychiatric outpatients.
3. Also according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, avoidant personality disorder must be differentiated from dependent, paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders.
4. Avoidant personality disorder is reported to be especially prevalent in people with anxiety disorders. Research suggests that approximately 10-50% of people who have panic disorder with agoraphobia have avoidant personality disorder, as well as about 20-40% of people who have social phobia (social anxiety disorder).
5. Although the occurrence of APD in children is still unidentified as today’s psychiatric practice doesn’t label children and adolescent with any personality disorder, the population of adults in general has a prevalence rate approximately 2.1–2.6%. And adults who are under outpatient psychiatry treatment show a rate of 14.7%.
6. In North American population, the adults that are affected with avoidant personality disorder is between 0.5% and 1.0% and it is more common in males than with females.