Overview

Causes

The cause is not known. It may be due to genes and environment.

The Central Nervous System
Brain face skull
A personality disorder is most likely a combination of chemical or electrical imbalances in the brain and a reaction to traumatic personal experiences.
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Risk Factors

Dependent personality disorder is more common in women and young adults. Other things that may raise the risk are:

  • Childhood loss of a parent
  • Child abuse or neglect
  • Long childhood illness

SymptomsandDiagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms may be:

  • Unfounded fear
  • Feeling powerless
  • Often needing others for:
    • Advice
    • Decisions
    • Approval
  • Low self-confidence
  • A strong reaction to criticism
  • Fear of rejection

Diagnosis

The doctor may refer you to mental health care. A therapist will ask about symptoms. A mental and health history will be taken. Diagnosis will be based on assessments.

Treatments

Treatment

The goal is to help the person function. Other mental health problems may need treatment. Options may be:

  • Counseling—to help with coping
  • Support groups
  • Medicines—to treat problems such as anxiety and depression

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent dependent personality disorder.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Edits to original content made by Denver Health.