Attachment Pathology and Low Social Skills in Avoidant Personality Disorder: An Exploratory Study*

Abstract

The criterion of desire for affection and acceptance was eliminated from the definition of avoidant personality disorder in the DSM-III-R. But clinical experience in our setting suggests that attachment pathology related to such desires is an important diagnostic feature and a frequent focus of clinical intervention with avoidant individuals. Forty-seven patients receiving a clinical diagnosis of avoidant personality disorder completed a brief questionnaire which rated desire for an attachment relationship, fear of an attachment relationship and level of social skills. The results support our hypotheses that attachment security is distinct from general social skills and that desire for but fear of an attachment relationship is more characteristic of those diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder than a low level of social skills.