Reclaiming Independence: Dependent Personality Disorder Treatment

Dependent personality disorder (DPD) can severely impact someone’s ability to live an independent and self-sufficient life. Someone with DPD excessively relies on others to support them both physically and emotionally. It’s not only disruptive to their daily life, but can also put a serious strain on their relationships. 

To an outsider, someone with DPD may appear to be clingy, needy, or immature. In reality, individuals with this personality disorder suffer from debilitating thoughts that can affect even the simplest of tasks. 

Fortunately, someone suffering from DPD can see a drastic improvement in their symptoms with the appropriate treatments. Let’s take a look at the symptoms and common issues associated with DPD, as well as how it should be treated. 

What is Dependent Personality Disorder?

In simple terms, someone with DPD will feel the excessive need to be taken care of. This can cause feelings of intense anxiety surrounding decision making, leading someone with DPD to need constant advice and reassurance. 

DPD can affect relationships too, causing someone to be submissive and clingy. Someone with this personality disorder will also have fears of separation and abandonment. Overall, DPD can impair someone’s daily functions and prevent them from forming healthy relationships.  

Read more about the types of personality disorders and how to treat them.

The Symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder

Understanding the symptoms of DPD can help someone gain self-awareness of how this disorder affects them. Some of the most common symptoms of DPD include:

• Relying on others to make even small decisions
• Not accepting responsibility in many areas of their life
• Difficulty initiating or performing tasks alone
• Feeling uncomfortable or anxious when alone
• Quickly initiating relationships and friendships when one ends
• Persistent fear that they can’t take care of themselves

DPD is a pervasive pattern of relying on others that can affect multiple aspects of someone’s life. By recognizing the symptoms of this personality disorder, someone can identify the impact it has on them and begin to regain their independence. 

How is DPD Diagnosed?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5 (DSM-V), provides the criteria for diagnosing DPD. According to the DSM-V, someone must exhibit an excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive behavior and fears of separation. To be diagnosed with DPD, someone must exhibit at least five of the common symptoms consistently. 

Understanding Dependent Personality Disorder

Personality disorders can be grouped into three distinct clusters. DPD is classified as a Cluster C personality disorder, and this cluster is characterized by persistent anxiety. Other Cluster C disorders include avoidant personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. 

People affected by Cluster C disorders are likely to develop additional disorders, called comorbidities. The common comorbidities of DPD and other Cluster C disorders include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression disorders
• Substance dependence or abuse
• Another personality disorder 

Understanding the comorbidities that may be affecting someone with DPD can help them get the appropriate treatment that they require. To get the most out of treatment and ensure a positive recovery, someone should seek treatment for their DPD and any comorbidities they may have. 

Dependent Personality Disorder vs Codependency

Codependency and DPD are distinct conditions that are often confused for one another. While DPD is characterized by the excessive need to be taken care of by others, codependency occurs when one person feels the excessive need to take care of someone else. 

While these two conditions seem to be opposites, individuals with either condition will rely on others for self-worth. Codependent individuals gain self-worth by neglecting their own needs to take care of someone else. Individuals with DPD gain self-worth through the constant support and validation from others. 

The Best Treatment for Dependent Personality Disorder

Fortunately, someone with DPD can regain their independence and experience relief from their symptoms with the right treatment. The best way to treat DPD is through therapy and guidance from a mental health professional. 

Treating DPD with Psychodynamic Therapy 

Psychodynamic therapy helps individuals identify deeply-rooted thoughts and emotions that can have a major impact on their behaviors. Once they have a better grasp of buried emotions and thought processes, they can begin to take control of their actions.

Figuring out why someone with DPD may rely so heavily on others can give them insights into how they can become independent. 

Read our full guide on psychodynamic therapy to learn more.

Treating DPD with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps someone recognize the negative thoughts and emotions that lead to unhealthy behaviors. By identifying these negative thought patterns, someone can begin to replace them with positive and healthier ones.  

CBT can help someone with DPD identify which thought patterns cause them to excessively feel the need to be taken care of. After identifying these thoughts, they can replace them with thought patterns that will help them gain self-reliance. 

Read our full guide on cognitive behavioral therapy to learn more.

Treating DPD with Medication

Certain medications, like anxiety and depression medications, may be prescribed to treat the symptoms of DPD and the comorbidities that come with it. While medications can’t be used to replace therapy treatments, they can provide additional relief of symptoms for some individuals. 

Read our guide on antidepressants to discover how they can provide relief for someone suffering from depression. 

Support From Loved Ones

In addition to therapy and medication, the support from loved ones is essential for someone recovering from DPD. Learning how to be independent can be a daunting experience for someone with DPD, and they may feel inclined to resort back to excessively relying on others. 

Sequoia Behavioral Health offers family resources for the loved ones of our clients that can teach you the skills needed to provide support for your loved one with DPD.

Loved ones that encourage independence can help facilitate recovery and teach someone with DPD how to be self-reliant.

Is Dependent Personality Disorder Curable?

DPD is a mental health condition that is treated rather than cured. “Cured” implies a complete eradication of symptoms without the chance of them returning. DPD can be a persisting condition that requires routine attention. 

That being said, someone with DPD can see a significant improvement to their quality of life and near remission of their symptoms with the appropriate treatment.

Reclaim Your Independence with Sequoia Behavioral Health

At Sequoia Behavioral Health, our professional therapists are experienced in helping individuals with DPD learn the skills they need to be independent. Independence is a liberating experience that is an essential part of living a healthy and happy lifestyle.

If you or someone you love is suffering from DPD, consider one of our mental health treatment plans that can help promote independence and self-reliance.