Dependent personality disorder

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Dependent personality disorder:

Dependent personality disorder (DPD), formerly known as asthenic personality disorder, is a personality disorder that is characterized by a pervasive psychological dependence on other people. This personality disorder is a long-term condition in which people depend on others to meet their emotional and physical needs, with only a minority achieving normal levels of independence.

Individuals with dependent personality disorder have great difficulty making everyday decisions (such as what shirt to wear or whether to carry an umbrella) without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others. These individuals tend to be passive and allow other people (often a single other person) to take the initiative and assume responsibility for most major areas of their lives. Adults with this disorder typically depend on a parent or spouse to decide where they should live, what kind of job they should have, and which neighbors to befriend. Adolescents with this disorder may allow their parent(s) to decide what they should wear, with whom they should associate, how they should spend their free time, and what school or college they should attend.
            Dependent personality disorder occurs in about 0.6% of the general population. The disorder is diagnosed more often in females than males; however, research suggests that this is largely due to behavioural differences in interviews and self-reporting rather than a difference in prevalence between the sexes.

Symptoms:

People with this disorder do not trust their own ability to make decisions and feel that others have better ideas. They may be devastated by separation and loss, and they may go to great lengths, even suffering abuse, to stay in a relationship. They may tend to belittle their abilities and frequently refer to themselves as "stupid." Other symptoms include:
  • Difficulty making decisions without reassurance from others
  • Extreme passivity
  • Problems expressing disagreements with others
  • Avoiding personal responsibility
  • Avoiding being alone
  • Devastation or helplessness when relationships end
  • Unable to meet ordinary demands of life
  • Preoccupied with fears of being abandoned
  • Easily hurt by criticism or disapproval
  • Willingness to tolerate mistreatment and abuse from others

Causes:

The cause of this disorder is not known. The disorder usually appears in early adulthood. Individuals who experienced chronic physical illness or separation anxiety disorder in childhood or adolescence may be at higher risk of developing dependent personality disorder. 
Some risk factors that might contribute to the development of this disorder include:

Complications:

Complications that can arise from untreated DPD are:
  • anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, avoidant personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)
  • depression
  • substance abuse
  • phobias
    • Early treatment can prevent many of these complications from developing.

    Treatment:

    Psychotherapy is the preferred form of treatment for people with dependent personality disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on patterns of thinking that are maladaptive, the beliefs that underlie such thinking, and resolving symptoms or traits that are characteristic of the disorder—such as the inability to make important life decisions or the inability to initiate relationships. Improvements are usually seen only with long-term therapy or treatment.
    Medication may be helpful to treat any other underlying conditions. Certain types of drugs, such as antidepressants, sedatives, and tranquilizers are often prescribed for patients with dependent personality disorder to treat co-occurring conditions.

    References:

  • Dependent personality disorder.(n.d).Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dependent-personality-disorder,accessed on 13 march 2018.
  • Psychology today.(n.d).Retrieved from; https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dependent-personality-disorder.accessed on 13 march 2018
  • Health line.( n.d).Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/dependent-personality-disorder#treatment.accessed on 13 march 2018

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