Dependent Personality Disorder
When someone is dependent on another, it is said to be dependent. Children depend on their parents for protection and have help to make decisions. After all, children need their parents to survive on their own. People with Dependent Personality Disorder are similar to these children and need someone to look after them and have help make decisions. Children prepare for independence in this relationship of dependence, but unfortunately for people with this disorder, dependence itself has become their life. Dependent Personality Disorder is characterized by a strong need for care from others, dependence on others for emotional or physical needs, and the need for the consent of others to make even trivial decisions. The onset usually occurs during childhood, or symptoms may appear around the age of 29.
Causes of Dependent Personality Disorder:
There are no exact studies on the cause of this disorder. It is generally known that this disorder occurs as a result of mixed genetic, environmental, and developmental consequences. In particular, the unstable attachment relationship with the primary caregiver during childhood plays a major role. It is often found in people who were exposed to various abuses, including verbal abuse, during childhood, those who experienced neglect by their caregivers, and, conversely, those who were raised by overprotection by their parents, and also those who suffered from life-threatening diseases. Genetically, people with family members with personality disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders are also more likely to be diagnosed with Dependent Personality Disorder. The disorder is also found in many people who grew up in cultures, religions, or families that emphasize dependence on authority.
Symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder:
People with this disorder are simply very emotionally dependent on others and are passive and suffer from separation anxiety. They also tend to do everything they can to please the person they depend on. Because of this, they see themselves as inferior, weak, and incompetent, afraid of being asked to do their own job, afraid of abandonment, and less angry at people when they have been treated unfairly.
1. Inability to make decisions on their own, including basic decisions (what to wear, what to eat, etc.)
2. Require the advice and assurance of others for every decision
3. Inability to start a project on their own
4. Rely on others to choose where to work or live
5. Naive and fantastic plans/dreams
6. Passive and helpless to any demands
7. Extreme Fear of Being Abandoned
8. Fear of losing support and Fear of disagreeing with others
9. Difficulty being alone
10. Desolation and Powerlessness from Loss of Relationships
11. Jump into new relationships quickly
12. Extreme sensitivity to criticism
13. Tolerating the Negative Behavior and Abuse of Others
14. Putting the needs of others ahead of your own
15. Lack of self-awareness and self-confidence
16. Belief that they cannot take care of themselves
17. Very passive about what's going on around them
18. Very obsessed with people they believe are more intelligent and capable
Diagnosis of Dependent Personality Disorder: DSM-5
A pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior and fears of separation, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
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).
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.
1. Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself.
(American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing)
Treatment:
If a dependent personality disorder is not treated, it is natural for them to suffer from depression and anxiety and may be exposed to drug addiction, including alcohol. In many cases, people with Dependent Personality Disorder are unaware that they themselves are suffering from the disorder. After all, they often visit psychiatric departments and counseling centers for help with life problems caused by thoughts or behaviors related to this disorder, or when symptoms such as depression or anxiety occur.
The best treatment for Dependent Personality Disorder is also cognitive-behavioral therapy. Psychological counseling, which includes assertiveness training, improves the self-esteem and self-confidence of people with this disorder so that they can lead independent, self-determining lives, and free themselves from excessive dependence on partners to create new, independent, positive, and meaningful relationships.
There are no drugs specific to Dependent Personality Disorder. Prozac or Xanax can be prescribed if depression and anxiety are induced along with dependent personality disorder, but their use should be cautious and continuous monitoring is required.
Dependent Personality Disorder Statistics:
A dependent personality disorder is not a commonly encountered disorder in the clinical field and is therefore not commonly diagnosed. However, there is always a problem that most of the many people with the characteristics that meet the criteria for diagnosis do not go to counseling centers or psychiatric departments. And that's why it's not easy to encounter Dependent Personality Disorder.
In general, in Korea, it is said that 1 in 7 people have a personality disorder (Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, 2015). However, it is not known exactly how many people actually have Dependent Personality Disorder. It is known that the prevalence of this disorder is generally 0.5% and that more women than men are exposed to this disorder. Between 0.1% and 0.3% of British people and about 0.3% of Americans have this disorder, about 0.2% of men and 0.02% of women in the UK, and about 0.33% of women and 0.2% of men in the United States.
For children who have been emotionally abused and those whose parents have a dependent personality disorder, the incidence is about 0.81. In addition, about 28% of people with Dependent Personality Disorder are alcohol dependent, about 27% drug dependent, and about 53% nicotine dependent. In addition, many people with panic disorder also have Dependent Personality Disorder.
