Cluster C Personality Disorders Test
What's In This Article?
Is there a specific cluster C personality disorders test that can be used for screening and diagnosis?
This is a common question people have, but before answering whether or not there is a cluster C personality disorders test, it’s valuable to have a deeper understanding of what personality disorders are. It’s also valuable to know specifically what cluster C personality disorders are, and what the signs and symptoms are.
What Are Personality Disorders?
Someone with a personality disorder may have a difficult time managing relationships and at school or work. An untreated personality disorder can have a serious impact on daily functionality.
Researchers and doctors aren’t sure what leads to personality disorders, but it may stem from a combination of genetic factors and childhood experiences.
When someone has a personality disorder, they may not realize they have a problem. They see their thoughts and behaviors as normal, and this leads them to blame others for situations in their lives. Every personality disorder has different symptoms.
Personality disorders fall into three categories:
- Cluster A personality disorders are defined by behavior seen as odd or eccentric
- Cluster B personality disorders include erratic or overly emotional behavior
- Cluster C personality disorders are signaled with anxious and fearful behavior
What Are Cluster C Personality Disorders?
The following are the personality disorders that fall into the Cluster C grouping.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant personality disorder leaves people very sensitive to rejection. Someone with an avoidant personality disorder is often so fearful of the potential for rejection that they don’t form relationships with others or engage in interpersonal interactions. Some of the signs of avoidant personality disorder include:
- Being very uncomfortable in social situations
- Timidity
- A fear of being criticized
- Avoiding social or work activities
Someone with avoidant personality disorder is very afraid of saying something that others could perceive as dumb, and any sign of disproval, whether real or imaged can be extremely distressing for someone with avoidant personality disorder. Outside of family, someone with avoidant personality disorder is unlikely to have any deep relationships.
Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder can lead someone to showcase submissive and dependent behaviors and attitudes. A personal with dependent personality disorder will often let other people make their decisions, and they seek constant advice and reassurance. Other signs of dependent personality disorder include:
- Very hurt by criticism
- Difficulties stem from being alone
- Take the ending of relationships very hard
- No self-confidence
This personality disorder is more common in females than males, and it usually appears in early adulthood.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
When someone has obsessive-compulsive disorder, they may seek perfection. They have high levels of expectations for themselves, and they are never happy with what they achieve. Signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder can also include:
- Reliable and dependable
- Methodical
- Inflexible and rigid
- Cautious
- Detail-oriented
- Problems making decisions and completing tasks because of the desire for perfection
- Feeling isolated when they have to rely on others
Someone with this cluster C personality disorder may be very inflexible over how they spend money, and they might not have strong relationships with others because of their dedication to work or other projects.
When someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder isn’t able to achieve what they view as perfection, it can cause extreme distress.
Someone with this personality disorder may want to control other situations and people, and they may not be able to assign responsibilities to others.
How Are Cluster C Personality Disorders Diagnosed?
There isn’t necessarily a specific cluster C personality disorders test that can be used to make a diagnosis. Personality disorders can also be more difficult to diagnose than other mental health disorders like depression because everyone’s personality is unique.
While there isn’t a standardized cluster C personality disorders test, questions a doctor may ask relate to the following:
- How do you perceive yourself, other people and situations and events?
- How do you respond emotionally to certain situations, and are your responses appropriate to the situation at hand?
- How do you manage relationships and deal with others?
- What is your impulse control like?
Some health care providers may ask you questions verbally, or they may have a written questionnaire where you add your responses.
In some cases, a doctor or mental healthcare provider might ask to speak with people you’re close to or who know you well, such as a family member.
When testing for cluster C personality disorders, sometimes speaking to the people who know you best is the most effective way to make a diagnosis since someone with a personality disorder may be unaware of the effects it has on others and even themselves.
Can Cluster C Personality Disorders Be Treated?
Personality disorders, including cluster C disorders, are challenging to treat, but treatment options are available. Typically when creating a treatment plan, a doctor will look not only at the disorder itself but its severity and how it manifests and affects your daily life.
As with most mental health issues, treating cluster C personality disorders can require experimentation to find the combination that works best for the individual. Options used to treat cluster C personality disorders can include:
- Psychotherapy: This is also called talk therapy. Talk therapy requires that you meet with a therapist on a regular basis to discuss your life, your thoughts, feelings, and Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most common forms of talk therapy used to treat cluster C personality disorders. Talk therapy can occur at an individual level with just you and your therapist. It may also take place in a family or group setting.
- No medications are specifically approved for the treatment of cluster C personality disorders, but some off-label options may be available to help with specific symptoms. People with personality disorders often have other co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, so medications may be used for these. Medications for personality disorders can include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and mood stabilizers. Antipsychotics may be prescribed
If you are searching for a cluster C personality disorders test, it may be because you believe you or a loved one could have one of these disorders. You aren’t alone and treatments are available, so reach out to your healthcare provider for more information.