title: The effect of Avoidant Personality Disorder on the persistence of Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder in the general population: results from a longitudinal, nationally representative mental health survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The primary objective of this study was to prospectively examine the role of Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD) as a determinant in the outcome of Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (GSAD) using Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions 3 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzed data from Waves 1 and 2 of the NESARC (n = 34,653). GSAD was operationalized based on the DSM-IV definitions of this SAD subtype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression analyses indicated that AvPD significantly predicted the persistence of GSAD, even after adjusting for a number of important sociodemographic variables and other psychiatric comorbidity. AvPD did not significantly predict outcome in non-generalized SAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AvPD can influence the course of GSAD in adulthood. Specific personality dimensions may underlie and explain the similarities between AvPD and GSAD. Self-criticism could be a shared feature of both AvPD and GSAD and could represent an important psychological marker of poor prognosis in comorbid GSAD and AvPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba PsycHealth Centre, 771 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. coxbj@cc.umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Danielle L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Bridget F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Murray B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult