Dependent Personality Disorder involves a pervasive psychological dependence on others. Individuals with this disorder often have difficulty making everyday decisions without excessive reassurance and may go to great lengths to gain nurture and support.
Key Points:
- Core Features: Submissiveness, clinginess, fear of separation or abandonment, difficulty expressing disagreement, and lack of self-confidence.
- Impact on Relationships: Can lead to unbalanced relationships, where the dependent person relies heavily on one or more individuals.
- Causes: Combination of genetic predisposition, early life experiences (e.g., overprotective parenting), and learned behaviors.
- Treatment: Psychotherapy (particularly CBT or psychodynamic therapy) focusing on building self-esteem, independence, and decision-making skills.
