Which cluster includes Dependent, Avoidant, and Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorders?

• A. Cluster C: Dependent, Avoidant, Obsessive-Compulsive
• B. Cluster A: Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal
• C. Cluster B: Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial, Borderline
• D. Not a recognized cluster

Answer: (A)

Personality disorders are grouped into clusters that reflect similar patterns of traits and coping styles. One cluster is the anxious/fearful cluster.

Within this cluster you find Dependent Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. They share a tendency toward anxiety and avoidance or rigidity: dependent PD involves a pervasive need to be reassured and dependence on others; avoidant PD features hypersensitivity to rejection and social inhibition; obsessive-compulsive PD centers on perfectionism, orderliness, and a strong need for control. While OCD (an anxiety disorder) is different, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder is categorized here due to its personality-sh traits like rigidity and preoccupation with rules.

The other clusters include Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal as one grouping, and Histrionic, Narcissistic, Antisocial, and Borderline as another. There isn’t a separate “not recognized” cluster, since these three clusters (A, B, and C) are the standard groupings.