Dependent personality disorder

Dependent personality disorder is one of the most common diagnoses. A person feels helpless, submissive, and in need of care and constant attention. Such a person is unable to make important daily decisions without the advice and approval of others.

This type of disorder affects men and women equally. It mainly appears at a young age, when important adult relationships begin to form.

Symptoms of DPD

A person with DPD is a dependent personality on other people. He or she is always trying to please others and spends a lot of energy and effort to do so. Usually, such a person tends to show their miserable and insignificant nature, clinging to someone and often experiencing fear of separation. There are also other factors that indicate an OCD disorder:

1. The person cannot make even the most ordinary life decisions, such as what to wear for a walk, without the opinion and advice of friends.
   
2. Avoids the responsibilities of an adult because he or she is passive and helpless. Depends on his wife, husband or friend and cannot make decisions without them, such as where to work or live.
   
3. They are afraid of being abandoned, and if this happens, they feel devastated and helpless. People with DPD usually quickly find another relationship when the previous one ends so as not to feel lonely.
   
4. They are very sensitive to criticism.
   
5. They are pessimistic. They are insecure people who are convinced that they cannot take care of themselves.
   
6. They usually always agree with other people's opinions because they are afraid of losing support or approval.
   
7. They can't start projects because they are sure they can't finish them because of their lack of self-confidence.
   
8. They cannot be alone.
   
9. Can't stand being treated badly by others.
   
10. They put the needs of other people above their own.
    
11. Most of them are naive people who are prone to fantasies.
    

What causes dpd disorder

To date, experts do not know the exact cause of personality disorder, but it most likely includes biological, temperamental, and psychological factors. According to some experts, if a child is raised by authoritarian, overprotective parents, he or she will develop a personality disorder in adulthood.

A dependency disorder rarely occur on its own—there are factors that trigger it and, in later stages, intensify it. These factors can be both external and internal. Internal factors include anxiety, emotional distress, and other psychological struggles. External factors, on the other hand, can involve certain medications with strong side effects on the nervous system and even substances like caffeine, which can heighten internal anxiety and contribute to worsening the condition.

Diagnosis of DPD

The diagnosis of a personality disorder differs from borderline personality disorder because they share common symptoms. With borderline personality disorder, a person is afraid of being abandoned, so they react with feelings of rage and emptiness. In DPD, a person becomes submissive and seeks new relationships because they are afraid of loneliness.

If many or all of the symptoms of DPD are present, a specialist conducts a thorough medical and psychological examination to determine the history, and if necessary, examines the person physically. Although there are no laboratory methods for determining a dependent personality disorder, a specialist can use a variety of diagnostic methods to rule out the presence of a physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.

If there are no physical causes, the doctor may refer the patient to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other specialized professional in this field who can diagnose the disease and prescribe appropriate treatment. Psychiatrists and psychologists use special interview and assessment tools to help identify PTSD.

Treatment methods for OCD

As with other types of disorders, people with BPD usually do not seek treatment for the disorder itself. They do so when a problem related to lifestyle or thinking becomes unbearable and they cannot cope with it on their own. Such patients are often prone to depression and anxiety, so only when these symptoms appear do they decide to seek help from specialists.

Psychotherapy (a special type of counseling) is the main method of treating GAD. The goal of therapy is to help a person with DPD become more active and independent and learn how to create normal and healthy relationships. Short-term goal-directed therapy is prescribed when the focus is on managing the behavior that interferes with functioning.

It is often helpful when the therapist and patient work together to recognize and address ways in which the patient may be creating the same type of passive dependency in the therapy relationship that occurs outside of treatment. Specific strategies may consist of assertiveness training to help the patient develop a sense of self-confidence, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help create new relationships and perspectives about themselves in relation to other people and experiences. The most significant changes in a person's personality structure are mostly achieved through long-term psychoanalytic or psychodynamic psychotherapy, which examines early developmental experiences as they can create defense mechanisms, coping styles, and patterns of preference and intimacy in relationships.

Medications can be used to treat people with ODD who also suffer from related illnesses, such as depression or anxiety. Meanwhile, medication therapy alone generally does not treat the underlying problems caused by personality disorders. It is also necessary to monitor the medication regimen, as people with DPD become dependent on them for a long time or misuse some prescription drugs.

Complications of OUD

Patients with addictive personality disorder often become depressed, develop anxiety disorders and various phobias. They may also abuse psychoactive drugs. They are also at risk of violence, as they may realize that they will do anything to maintain a relationship with their partner or an entity that has power over them.

What are the prospects for patients with IPV?

With the help of psychotherapy (a special method of counseling), most people with this disorder can learn to become more independent of their partner and make their own choices in life.

Is it possible to avoid ODD?

Although there are no preventive measures for this personality disorder, professional and effective treatment often helps people become more independent and make responsible decisions.

Creating and developing a personality is a complex process that begins to take shape in childhood. The earlier psychotherapy is started, the more effective it will be. At an early age, a person is more amenable to therapy when a strong trusting relationship is developed between him or her and the doctor.

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