Home > Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders > Dependent personality disorder

Definition

Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive need to be taken care of or depend upon others. Persons with this disorder are typically submissive and display clinging behavior toward those from whom they fear being separated.

Dependent personality disorder is one of several personality disorderslisted in the newest edition of the standard reference guide: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also known as the DSM-IV-TR.

Description

Persons with dependent personality disorder are docile, passive, and nonassertive. They exert a great deal of energy to please others, are self-sacrificing, and constantly attempt to elicit the approval...