A DSM-5 Definition of Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) is in the newest American diagnostic manual (DSM-5) characterized by impairments in two domains of personality functioning: self and interpersonal functioning.
dsm-5
The Fine Distinction Between Personality Disorders and Clinical Syndromes (DSM-IV)
How are personality disorders different from clinical syndromes? I have tried to sum up some general, historical assumptions on this issue.