info@Psych-EReg.ca
Midland, ON, Canada
Based in North Simcoe/Muskoka, providing services throughout Ontario
The Centre for Psychology + Emotion Regulation The Centre for Psychology + Emotion Regulation
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Dependent Personality Disorder

What is Dependent Personality Disorder?

People with DPD have signifiant difficulty being alone, making independent decisions, and tend to become emotionally overdependent on other people. A core symptom is a pervasive need to be taken care of and an over-reliance on others to meet their emotional and physical needs. People with this disorder tend to be passive and demonstrate clinging behaviours as there is a substantial fear of loss and separation. They often believe that they are not capable of functioning on their own.

Other common characteristics of this personality disorder include:

  • Difficulty making everyday decisions without the advice and reassurance of others
  • Needs others to assume responsibility for their lives
  • Difficulty expressing disagreement for fear of losing support or approval
  • Intense fear of abandonment and a sense of devastation or helplessness when relationships end; a person with DPD often moves right into another relationship when one ends.
  • Inability to start projects or tasks because of a lack of self-confidence
  • Will volunteer to do things they don’t like as a way to gain nurturance and support; will tolerate being mistreated
  • Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of fears of being unable to care for himself or herself.
  • Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close re­lationship ends.
  • Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of themselves

How is Dependent Personality Disorder Treated?

In order to help a person manage emotion and impulsivity, we typically use DBT as the treatment of choice.

Treatments

DBT

Learn More About Other Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Narcissitic + Antisocial Disorders
Paranoid + Schizotypal Disorders

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267 King Street
Midland, Ontario Canada
L4R 3M4
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Open Hours

Monday 9am – 6pm
Tuesday 9am – 6pm
Wednesday 9am – 6pm
Thursday 9am – 6pm
Friday 9am – 6pm

Let′s Talk

Phone: 249 492 2673
Fax: 249 492 2640
Info@Psych-EReg.ca

© 2021 Dr. Anita Federici