Abstract

OLIVARES-OLIVARES, Pablo J. et al. Personality disorder by avoidance or generalized social phobia?: a pilot study with spanish teenager population. liber. [online]. 2014, vol.20, n.2, pp.219-228. ISSN 1729-4827.

The objective of this study was to analyze to what extent are qualitative and quantitative differences among teenager with Generalized Social Phobia diagnosis and those, which meet the criteria for the diagnosis of generalized social phobia plus Personality Disorder by Avoidance, in accordance with the requirements of the Diagnostic, and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. The sample consisted of 29 Spanish teenagers with an average age of 15.22 (TD = 1.08; range = 14-17), most of them were female (66.7%). The results show statistically significant differences in only one of the nine quantitative variables continuous measures: the number of social situations Feared/Avoided. The design of the study was correlated and cross-sectional. No inter-group differences were found in terms of comorbidity except in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder variable. The results obtained support the position that claims that Personality Disorder by Avoidance should not be considered a separate diagnostic entity, but should be part of the Social Anxiety gradient positioned at the greater extreme of continuous importance.

Keywords : Generalized social phobia; personality disorder by avoidance; social anxiety; teenagers.

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