Michelle Cifuentes Period 5

Dependent Personality Disorder Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing need for a person to be taken care of and a fear of being abandoned or separated from important individuals in his or her life.

Associated Features  People with this disorder do not trust their own ability to make decisions.  They may be very upset by separation and loss, and go to great lengths, even suffering abuse, to stay in a relationship.  They take criticism and disapproval as proof of their worthlessness and lose faith in themselves.  They may seek overprotection and dominance from others.

Associated Features DSM-IV- TR Critria The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, DSM IV-TR, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders, defines dependant personality disorder as at least five of the following (in Axis II Cluster C) as: 1.has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others 2.needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life 3.has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval. Note: do not include realistic fears of retribution. 4.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)

Associated Features 5.goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others, to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant 6.feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself 7.urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends 8.is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself It is a requirement of DSM-IV that a diagnosis of any specific personality disorder also satisfies a set of general personality disorder criteria.

Etiology There are no sure causes about DPD but there are theories about the possible causes of dependent personality disorder:  Biopsychosocial perspective:  biological and genetic factors  social factors (such as how a person interacts in their early development with their family and friends and other children)  psychological factors (the individual's personality and temperament, shaped by their environment and learned coping skills to deal with stress)

Etiology Continued...  No single factor is responsible  It is the complex and likely intertwined nature of all three factors that are important.  If a person has this personality disorder, research suggests that there is a slightly increased risk for this disorder to be "passed down" to their children Psychological Social Biological

Prevalence  DPD is one of the most frequently diagnosed personality disorders.  It appears to occur equally in men and women, and usually appears in early to middle adulthood

Treatment  Psychotherapy  Treatment of dependent personality disorder typically involves long-term psychotherapy with a therapist that has experience in treating this kind of personality disorder.  Pharmacotherapy  Medications may also be prescribed to help with specific troubling and debilitating symptoms.

Prognosis Course or Outcome:  People with DPD are at risk for depression, anxiety disorders, and phobias, as well as substance abuse.  They are also at risk for being abused because they are willing to do anything to maintain their relationships with their caregivers. Chances of improvement, manageability, or recovery:  With treatment, many people with DPD can experience some improvement in symptoms.

Reference Halgin, R.P, & Whitbourne, S.K. (2005) Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw Hill IBM.(2011). Dependent Personality Disorder - PubMed Health.” Retrieved from IBM. (2010). Dependent Personality Disorder. Retrieved from page=2. Staff, P.C. (2010) Dependent Personality Disorder - Psych Central. Retrieved from

Discussion Question If DPD is viewed from the biopsychosocial perspective, discuss the significance of social interactions within society for DPD.