Dependent Personality Disorder

Dependent Personality Disorder is classified as a personality disorder which presents itself in fearful and anxious behaviours. Throughout the developmental span, there are varying degrees of dependence and children and adolescents are expected to develop increasing degrees of autonomy and adults are expected to be self reliant, unless they have a physical or psychological disability, or are in a short term impaired conditioned. When an able-bodied adult or older adolescent does not have age appropriate ability to operate autonomously, the diagnostic criteria for Dependent Personality Disorder may be met.

Symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder
According to the DSM-5, there is one criteria with eight features for Dependent Personality Disorder:

• An excessive and pervasive need to be taken care of , submissive, clinging, needy behaviour due to fear of abandonment. This may be expressed by:
  
• Difficulty making routine decisions without input, reassurance, and advice from others.
  
• Requires others to assume responsibilities which they should be attending to.
  
• Fear of disagreeing with others and risking disapproval.
  
• Difficulty starting projects without support from others.
  
• Excessive need to obtain nurturance and support from others, even allowing other to impose themselves rather than risk rejection or disapproval.
  
• Feels vulnerable and helpless when alone.
  
• Desperately seeks another relationship when one ends.
  
• Unrealistic preoccupation with being left alone and unable to care for themselves.
  

Treatment for Dependent Personality Disorder

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) has been identified as an ideal treatment for personality Disorders. Individuals with Dependent Personality will feel incapable of carrying out adult tasks on their own.