What is avoidant personality disorder?
Avoidant personality disorder belongs to the category of borderline personality disorders. The characteristic symptoms associated with this disorder include abnormal and heightened levels of sensitivity to rejection. Avoidant personality disorder tests show that people afflicted by this disorder are afraid of trying anything new. This further curtails their ability to start relationships or do anything out of their comfort zone. Avoidant personality disorder is a highly generalized form of social phobia. Though some patients have shown a strong desire for affection and acceptance, they generally cannot handle any form of intimacy and are not able to cope with social situations because they have an innate and deep-seated fear of disappointment and criticism.
How are people with avoidant personality disorder identified?
People who have avoidant personality disorder are usually quiet, shy, and timid. They are not violent and do not respond or retaliate to rejection with anger. Unlike people with schizoid personality, avoidant personality disorder involves dealing with people who openly express their distress due to their inability to communicate and establish a level of comfort with the people around them.
Do personality disorder drug treatments work on borderline personality disorder treatments?
Personality disorder drugs are aimed at reducing the anxiety and depression that are an integral part of the disorder. Some drugs used for the treatment of personality disorder are antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. They work by reducing the severity of most symptoms and aid in treatments using psychotherapy.
Some medications that have been found to be successful for the treatment of avoidant personality disorder are:
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors like Parnate, Marplan, and Nardil. These drugs help the individual cope with avoidant personality disorder by improving their confidence level and, as a result, helps them face specific fears and phobias. These collective effects increase their tolerance and assertiveness in social settings.
- Other personality disorder drugs include:
- Clonazepam Oral disintegrating tablets
- Sertraline Hydrochloride Oral solutions
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Fluoxetine(Prozac)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- All of these drugs used for the treatment of personality disorders are also prescribed for other psychological disorders like OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), depression, panic disorder, and other conditions that include but are not limited to premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), post-traumatic stress, and social anxiety. Most of these drugs belong to either the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) or the Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) category of drugs.
- Klonopin is an effective anti-anxiety drug that is used in combination with other medications for the treatment of personality disorder. Klonopin is a benzodiazepines.
- Beta-blockers are also known to be effective in dealing with avoidant personality disorder.
Medical practitioners and psychiatrists believe that a combined approach to personality disorder treatments that includes both medications and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) might help cure the problem.
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