Five Factor Model
A personality disorder can be described as a type of mental disorder in which someone has an unhealthy way of thinking and behaving which leads to difficulties in social situations and other aspects of life. To understand more specific personality disorders one must first know the definition of the illness on a basic level. A Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) can broadly be described as a tendency to rely on others for nurturance, guidance, protection and support. More specifically it is defined as “ a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissiveness, clingy behavior, and fear of separation” (Bornstein. 2012). A five factor model can be used by doctors diagnosing a patient with DPD. Thirty traits can be used when testing the five factor model, which is why experts rated each based on its prevalence to DPD so doctors can better understand the patient's illness. When rated by experts, a prototypic case of DPD includes high anxiousness, depressiveness, self consciousness, and vulnerability (from neuroticism); compliance and modesty (from agreeableness); and low assertiveness. A person suffering from DPD may also dislike to do activities and probably will not be open to change.
Characteristics of DPD When most therapists are asked what personality type is easiest to work with, the …show more content…
answer tends to be people with a DPD. People with this disorder seek to be accepted and taken care of by people of authority which leads them to act agreeable in order to be favored. Therapists say that people with DPD tend to have a greater self awareness and insight than other personality types.
Depression can oftentimes coincide with DPD; depressive episodes can be triggered by a disruption in relationships or other interpersonal conflicts. A person with DPD will most likely
exhibit a few key traits such as; caretaking, obsession, low self-worth, repression/denial , and bad communication in their daily relationships. Someone with DPD tends to put other people’s problems, needs, and desires before their own. They are caretakers. They feel that is it is their responsibility to nurture and care for whoever the person in need may be. They are often attracted to people in need and those people in need are in turn, attracted to them. They get angry when their help isn't effective, and they feel sad because people don't reciprocate their caring abilities. They get bored and feel worthless when they don't have someone to help, or do not have any issues in their own life. These people tend to come from dysfunctional families yet, they usually deny it because they don't like others to think they have problems. They feel guilty if they do something fun or buy something for themselves. They spend their lives attempting to be accepted by those around them. They view life as not even having a possibility of getting better and are rarely satisfied so they live vicariously through others. They obsess over their self worth, and need for acceptance.
Other things that they obsess over are other’s problems.
They constantly talk and think about other people and even lose sleep worrying about others. Many of the people affected by this illness have lived through situations that were out of their control so they attempt to balance it out by controlling other people’s lives. They ignore their problems and focus on the worries of others. Sometimes, they pretend that situations aren't as bad as they really are and convince themselves that things will get better. Some activities that they participate in to ignore their problems are; compulsively spending money, become workaholics, believe lies, lie
to
themselves, overeat, go to doctor for tranquilizers and wonder why they feel like they're going crazy. This disorder causes people to be submissive which leads to bad communication with others. They don't speak, think or say what they mean. They use coercion, blame, and bribes to get what they want and gauge their words in a way to get their preferred outcome.
Causes of DPD The environment in which someone lives, is highly influential on their mental health. People who come from dysfunctional family situations are more likely to have a personality disorder. Usually someone with this disorder got it because one of their parents also has it or another personality disorder. “If parents are unresponsive, inconsistent, or abusive children may develop fearful or insecure attachment, which they internalize as a model and adopt later in relationships” (Harvard Health .2007). The parent may also be overly clingy, constantly asking for advice on the same subjects and doing everything they can to be accepted by their children that it leads to the children retreating away. With overprotective parents, a shy, gentle and easily frightened child has the potential to develop DPD. The parent constantly protects the child from aggressive older siblings and acts of independence, which leads the codependent tendency to be reinforced on the child. “According to one psychodynamic theory, dependent personalities are defending themselves against unconscious hostility. They need to ward off this emotion, which was originally directed against overbearing parents, so they submit to others as a way to avoid showing or even acknowledging anger” (Harvard Health. 2007). Other types of relationships can also dictate the likelihood of someone conceiving a personality disorder. “Personality traits are thought to be conceived from unconscious emotional conflicts - experience and feelings out of awareness - and the unconscious defenses we erect against them” (Harvard Health. 2007). Toxic relationships can lead to toxic coping mechanisms, which can lead to PD’s.
Treatment
There is not a cure when it comes to PD’s. However there are a few options that have proven to make a difference. Such as: coping and management treatment, therapy, and interventions. When it comes to treatment of PD’s there tends to be a few common barriers that limit the chances of a successful recovery. Not acknowledging the problem and avoiding professional help are the number one barriers between a make or bust recovery. The patient needs to be willing to help themselves for as long as it takes to get their illness under control. Some common medications include reuptake inhibitors of either serotonin or norepinephrine. Reuptake inhibitors affect the chemicals that nerves in the brain use to send messages. The way these SSRI’s work is by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin, an action which allows more serotonin to be available to be taken by other nerves. Multiple forms of therapy are also offered such as individual therapy, couple/family therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Statistics
Being among the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder, DPD is found in about 14% of people who have personality disorders and about 2.5% of the general population. Other estimates have shown a median prevalence rate of 20%, with a range from 2% to 55%. DPD has also been shown to be comorbid with mood and anxiety disorders, such as depression, phobias, obsessive‐compulsive, and alcohol abuse. Patients have poorer outcomes when they have the combination of mood and/or anxiety disorder along with dependency traits. Research indicates that economic dependency in women and emotional dependency in men independently contribute to domestic-partner abuse risk and that high levels of emotional dependency in an abused partner may reduce the likelihood that the victimized person will terminate the relationship. If someone has one PD they most likely will have another one. Statistically, it is 0.82% likely for someone suffering from DPD to also be suffering from Bipolar Personality Disorder.
Characteristics of DPD When most therapists are asked what personality type is easiest to work with, the …show more content…
answer tends to be people with a DPD. People with this disorder seek to be accepted and taken care of by people of authority which leads them to act agreeable in order to be favored. Therapists say that people with DPD tend to have a greater self awareness and insight than other personality types.
Depression can oftentimes coincide with DPD; depressive episodes can be triggered by a disruption in relationships or other interpersonal conflicts. A person with DPD will most likely
exhibit a few key traits such as; caretaking, obsession, low self-worth, repression/denial , and bad communication in their daily relationships. Someone with DPD tends to put other people’s problems, needs, and desires before their own. They are caretakers. They feel that is it is their responsibility to nurture and care for whoever the person in need may be. They are often attracted to people in need and those people in need are in turn, attracted to them. They get angry when their help isn't effective, and they feel sad because people don't reciprocate their caring abilities. They get bored and feel worthless when they don't have someone to help, or do not have any issues in their own life. These people tend to come from dysfunctional families yet, they usually deny it because they don't like others to think they have problems. They feel guilty if they do something fun or buy something for themselves. They spend their lives attempting to be accepted by those around them. They view life as not even having a possibility of getting better and are rarely satisfied so they live vicariously through others. They obsess over their self worth, and need for acceptance.
Other things that they obsess over are other’s problems.
They constantly talk and think about other people and even lose sleep worrying about others. Many of the people affected by this illness have lived through situations that were out of their control so they attempt to balance it out by controlling other people’s lives. They ignore their problems and focus on the worries of others. Sometimes, they pretend that situations aren't as bad as they really are and convince themselves that things will get better. Some activities that they participate in to ignore their problems are; compulsively spending money, become workaholics, believe lies, lie
to
themselves, overeat, go to doctor for tranquilizers and wonder why they feel like they're going crazy. This disorder causes people to be submissive which leads to bad communication with others. They don't speak, think or say what they mean. They use coercion, blame, and bribes to get what they want and gauge their words in a way to get their preferred outcome.
Causes of DPD The environment in which someone lives, is highly influential on their mental health. People who come from dysfunctional family situations are more likely to have a personality disorder. Usually someone with this disorder got it because one of their parents also has it or another personality disorder. “If parents are unresponsive, inconsistent, or abusive children may develop fearful or insecure attachment, which they internalize as a model and adopt later in relationships” (Harvard Health .2007). The parent may also be overly clingy, constantly asking for advice on the same subjects and doing everything they can to be accepted by their children that it leads to the children retreating away. With overprotective parents, a shy, gentle and easily frightened child has the potential to develop DPD. The parent constantly protects the child from aggressive older siblings and acts of independence, which leads the codependent tendency to be reinforced on the child. “According to one psychodynamic theory, dependent personalities are defending themselves against unconscious hostility. They need to ward off this emotion, which was originally directed against overbearing parents, so they submit to others as a way to avoid showing or even acknowledging anger” (Harvard Health. 2007). Other types of relationships can also dictate the likelihood of someone conceiving a personality disorder. “Personality traits are thought to be conceived from unconscious emotional conflicts - experience and feelings out of awareness - and the unconscious defenses we erect against them” (Harvard Health. 2007). Toxic relationships can lead to toxic coping mechanisms, which can lead to PD’s.
Treatment
There is not a cure when it comes to PD’s. However there are a few options that have proven to make a difference. Such as: coping and management treatment, therapy, and interventions. When it comes to treatment of PD’s there tends to be a few common barriers that limit the chances of a successful recovery. Not acknowledging the problem and avoiding professional help are the number one barriers between a make or bust recovery. The patient needs to be willing to help themselves for as long as it takes to get their illness under control. Some common medications include reuptake inhibitors of either serotonin or norepinephrine. Reuptake inhibitors affect the chemicals that nerves in the brain use to send messages. The way these SSRI’s work is by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin, an action which allows more serotonin to be available to be taken by other nerves. Multiple forms of therapy are also offered such as individual therapy, couple/family therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Statistics
Being among the most commonly diagnosed personality disorder, DPD is found in about 14% of people who have personality disorders and about 2.5% of the general population. Other estimates have shown a median prevalence rate of 20%, with a range from 2% to 55%. DPD has also been shown to be comorbid with mood and anxiety disorders, such as depression, phobias, obsessive‐compulsive, and alcohol abuse. Patients have poorer outcomes when they have the combination of mood and/or anxiety disorder along with dependency traits. Research indicates that economic dependency in women and emotional dependency in men independently contribute to domestic-partner abuse risk and that high levels of emotional dependency in an abused partner may reduce the likelihood that the victimized person will terminate the relationship. If someone has one PD they most likely will have another one. Statistically, it is 0.82% likely for someone suffering from DPD to also be suffering from Bipolar Personality Disorder.