Nicole Is Socially Inhibited and Oversensitive to Negative Evaluation

Nicole is socially inhibited and oversensitive to negative evaluation. She was thinking about a career in nursing, but she changed her mind because she believes the doctors would criticize her and patients would reject her. She has never been on a date because she feels socially inept and unappealing; she avoids meeting new people because anything less than immediate, unconditional acceptance causes her anxiety. Just yesterday she was invited to go on a kayak trip, but she didn't go because she was worried she would embarrass herself. Which of the following diagnoses accounts for Nicole's personality?

A) avoidant personality disorder
B) dependent personality disorder
C) obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
D) schizotypal personality disorder