Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders

F60.6 Avoidant Personality Disorder (301.82)

A pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inferiority, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

  • 1. Avoids work or activities that involve significant interpersonal contact because of fear of criticism, disapproval, or rejection.
  • 2. Is reluctant to get involved with people unless certain of being liked.
  • 3. Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed.
  • 4. Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations.
  • 5. Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy.
  • 6. Views self as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others.
  • 7. Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing.

F60.7 Dependent Personality Disorder (301.6)

A pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

  • 1. Has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.
  • 2. Needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of their life.
  • 3. Has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval. Note: Do not include realistic fears of retribution.
  • 4. Has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on their own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy).
  • 5. Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant.
  • 6. Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for themself.
  • 7. Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends.
  • 8. Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of themself.

F60.5 Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (301.4)

A pervasive pattern of preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following:

  • 1. Is preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.
  • 2. Shows perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because their own overly strict standards are not met).
  • 3. Is excessively devoted to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships (not accounted for by obvious economic necessity).
  • 4. Is overconscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification).
  • 5. Is unable to discard worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value.
  • 6. Is reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly their way of doing things.
  • 7. Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes.
  • 8. Shows rigidity and stubbornness.