Cluster A personality pathology in social anxiety disorder: A comparison with panic disorder

Abstract

Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) has been associated with cluster A personality disorder (PD) traits, mainly paranoid and schizoid traits. Aim: The aim of the study was to further investigate cluster A personality pathology in patients with SAD. Methods: Self-reported PD traits were investigated in a clinical sample of 161 participants with SAD and in a clinical comparison group of 145 participants with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PAD). Results: A diagnosis of SAD was associated with more paranoid and schizotypal PD traits, and an association between depression and personality pathology could indicate a state-effect of depression on PD traits. Conclusions: Patients with SAD had more cluster A personality pathology than patients with PAD, with the most solid indication for paranoid personality pathology.

• Cluster A personality disorders
• Panic disorder
• Paranoid personality disorder
• Personality disorders
• Social anxiety disorder
• Social phobia

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Associate Professor Thomas Nielsen and Patrick O’Toole for helpful comments during preparation of the manuscript.

Disclosure of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.