1. Dependent Personality Disorder By Daniella Perez

2. What is it?

3. Symptoms Has difficulty making everyday decisions. Needs others to assume responsibility. 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.

4. More… Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others. Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone. Urgently seeks another relationship. Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself.

5. Can be confused with… Mood Disorders; Agoraphobia; general medical conditions; Borderline Personality Disorder; Avoidant Personality Disorder; Panic Disorder; Personality Disorder; Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition; Symptoms that may develop in association with chronic substance use.

6. Etiology (Learning) This behavior could be learned by family members. –Parents with this type of relationship. –Role modeling older siblings.

7. Treatments (learning) How can this be cured? –With therapies involving seeing what other types of relationships look like. –Being exposed to a functional relationship and how it works. How? –With a psychotherapist

8. Etiology (Cognitive) This disorder could also be developed due to need of attention. –People being neglected by their parents. –People that have experienced abuses: Verbally Physically Emotionally Past experiences (liked the feeling).

9. Treatments (cognitive) Self-help methods for the treatment of this disorder are often overlooked Individuals should likely avoid using a support group as the only means of treatment for this disorder, since it is likely to encourage additional dependent relationships.

10. Etiology (biological)

11. Treatments (Biological) Sedative drug abuse and overdose is common. Anti-anxiety agents and antidepressants. Physicians should resist the temptation to over prescribe to someone with this disorder.

12. Bibliography http://www.mentalhealth.com/rx/p23- pe09.html http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis-rs/frs- pe09.html http://www.toad.net/~arcturus/dd/depend.ht m#2 http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx13t.htm