Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder - DPD

Dependent personality disorder is a chronic condition involving over-reliance on others to meet emotional and physical needs. Dependent Personality Disorder is manifested via passively allowing others to assume responsibility for major areas of ones life due to lack of self-confidence or lack of ability to function independently.

Causes of Dependent Personality Disorder

The cause of this disorder is not known. The disorder usually appears in early adulthood. This disorder is common but not well studied; however, more women than men have been found to have dependent personality disorder.

Symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder

People with this disorder do not trust their own ability to make decisions. They may be devastated by separation and loss and may go to great lengths, even suffering abuse, to stay in a relationship.

• has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others
• needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life
• has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval.
• has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy)
• goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant
• feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself
• urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
• is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself

Differential Diagnosis of Dependent Personality Disorder

• Mood Disorders
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition
• Symptoms that may develop in association with chronic substance use.

Treatment of Dependent Personality Disorder

In general , psychoactive drugs must only be prescribed for clear indications. The complications and the frequency of polydrug abuse, especially sedative-hypnotic drugs, in patients with personality disorders are enormous.

Psychosocial Treatment - As with many of the other personality disorders, patients with this diagnosis are unlikely to seek treatment. They may, however, wish to explore reasons for lack of social or vocational success, and may suffer considerable loss when an important figure leaves them in one way or another.

• Individual Psychotherapy
• Group Therapy
• Behavior Therapy

Features of dependent personality disorder

• Feels unable to care for himself
• Allows others to take responsibility
• Needs excessive help to make decisions
• Unduly complaint
• Fear of being left to care for himself
• Unwilling to make reasonable demand

Note: Three additional criteria are used in DSM-IV. They can be summarized as:

• goes to excessive lenghts to obtain support;
• difficulty in initiating projects;
• urgently seeks a supportive relationship.

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Site last updated: March 4, 2008

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