Cluster C Personality Disorders

Cluster C personality disorders (PDs) are three mental health conditions that involve severe anxiety and fear. They include:

• Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD): AVPD involves poor self-esteem and extreme sensitivity to criticism. You may avoid commitments involving social interactions due to fear of rejection.
• Dependent personality disorder (DPD): DPD involves a constant and excessive need for someone else to take care of you. You may need frequent reassurance and have a fear of separation from your important person.
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD): OCPD involves an intense need for orderliness and control. You may not allow any flexibility or openness to other ways of doing things.

It’s possible to have more than one of the Cluster C PDs. For example, it’s common to have avoidant and dependent personality disorders.

These lifelong behaviors and thinking patterns can cause distress in many areas of your life, like work and relationships. Talk therapy can help manage the symptoms.

Traits of Cluster C personality disorders

Each Cluster C personality disorder has its own unique symptoms. But they share certain personality traits. If you have a Cluster C PD, you may have:

• Low self-esteem
• Difficulty coping with criticism or conflict
• Fear of doing something wrong or making a mistake
• Difficulty with relationships

These traits begin by early adulthood. They’re constant and affect your ability to do tasks and relate to others in a healthy way.

Cluster C personality disorder causes

Healthcare providers don’t know the exact cause of Cluster C personality disorders. It likely involves many factors, like genetics, childhood experiences and childhood temperament. For example, studies show that genetic factors account for 27% to 66% of the traits in OCPD.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be a significant risk factor for Cluster C personality disorders. ACEs are traumatic events that happen between birth and age 17. Researchers think these negative experiences lead to unhealthy (maladaptive) patterns of thinking that can develop into a personality disorder.

Types of ACEs that may contribute to personality disorders in this cluster include:

• Emotional, physical or sexual abuse
• Physical or emotional neglect
• Parental rejection or excessive control

How doctors diagnose these conditions

Healthcare providers use criteria in the DSM-5 to diagnose Cluster C personality disorders. Each type has specific criteria. Providers ask questions about your medical, personal and social history to guide the diagnosis.

This can be difficult. Most people living with personality disorders may not seek help. Mental health professionals may work with loved ones to gather more information.

How is it treated?

Talk therapy can help manage Cluster C personality disorders. You’ll work with a mental health professional. They can provide support and education. They’ll help you learn healthier ways of working through emotions and relationships.

There are several types of talk therapy. Three types that may especially help with this cluster are:

• Psychodynamic therapy: You dive into past thoughts and feelings to understand how they shape who you are today.
• Schema therapy: A schema is a mental framework for how you understand the world. This therapy helps you adjust unhelpful (maladaptive) schemas you formed in childhood.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy: This is time-limited and goal-oriented talk therapy that targets inaccurate beliefs about yourself, others and the world.

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve any medications to treat PDs directly. But you may take medicine to help other conditions you have, like anxiety and depression.

What can I expect if I have this condition?

The outlook for Cluster C personality disorders varies. It depends on symptom severity and if you get treatment. If you have a personality disorder in this cluster, you may be at an increased risk of:

• Anxiety, depression and/or bipolar disorder
• Social isolation
• Substance use
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts

Because of these complications, it’s crucial to get medical help sooner rather than later. Treatment can help improve your quality of life.

Get help immediately if you’re having suicidal thoughts. You can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any time.