How is dependent personality disorder diagnosed?
Personality continues to evolve throughout child and adolescent development. Because of this, healthcare providers don’t typically diagnose someone with dependent personality disorder until after the age of 18. Providers need evidence that these patterns of behavior are long-lasting and haven’t really changed with time.
Personality disorders, including DPD, can be difficult to diagnose. This is because most people with one don’t think there’s a problem with their behavior or way of thinking.
When they do seek help, it’s often due to conditions such as anxiety or depression from the problems created by their personality disorder, like relationship or work difficulties.
When a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, suspects someone might have dependent personality disorder, they often ask broad, general questions that will shed light on:
- Past history.
- Relationships.
- Previous work history.
- Reality testing.
A person suspected of having DPD may lack insight into their behaviors and thought patterns. So, mental health professionals often work with the person’s family and friends to collect more information into their behaviors and history.
DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for dependent personality disorder
Mental health providers base a diagnosis of dependent personality disorder on the criteria for the condition in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Diagnostic criteria for dependent personality disorder involve a persistent pattern of at least five of the following behaviors:
- Difficulty making daily decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others.
- Needing others to be responsible for the most important aspects of their life.
- Difficulty disagreeing with others because they fear the loss of support or approval.
- Issues starting projects on their own because they’re not confident in their judgment and abilities.
- Willingness to go to great lengths (like doing unpleasant tasks) to get support from others.
- Feeling uncomfortable or helpless when they’re alone because they fear they can’t take care of themselves.
- Urgently needing to form a new relationship with someone who will provide care and support when a close relationship ends.
- Unrealistic worry of being left to take care of themselves.
