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Dependent personality is characterised by an excessive need to be taken care of, as well as being approved by others. Women have a higher tendency to develop this disorder than men.
Dependent personality disorder related causes are believed to be a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors.
Symptoms include an excessive need for approval, difficulty making decisions, fear of abandonment, anxiety or fear of social situations, a lack of trust in one-self and difficulty beginning projects and activities by themselves.
Diagnosis is based on the patient's clinical and family history, as well as psychological tests.
Dependent personality disorder treatment includes psychotherapy, mediation and group therapy.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
- Torgersen S. Epidemiology. In: The Oxford Handbook of Personality Disorders, Widiger TA (Ed), Oxford University Press, New York 2012. p.186.
- Disney, K. L. (2013). Dependent personality disorder: a critical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(8), 1184–1196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.001
Dr. Abel Andrés Orelogio
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