People with this disorder do not trust their own ability to make decisions. They may be devastated by separation and loss and may go to great lengths, even suffering abuse, to stay in a relationship.
Signs and tests:
A person with dependent personality disorder may:
Be unable to make decisions
Avoid personal responsibility
Avoid being alone
Feel devastated or helpless when relationships end
Be unable to meet ordinary demands of life
Become preoccupied with fears of being abandoned
Be easily hurt by criticism or disapproval
Be extremely passive in relation to other people
Review Date: 12/1/2004
Reviewed By: James W. Dilley, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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