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DSM-IV: Dependent Personality Disorder

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According to DSM-IV, a personality disorder can be diagnosed if there are significant impairments in self and interpersonal functioning together with one or more pathological personality traits. (Psychology Today) DSM-IV lists personality disorders into three clusters, Dependent Personality Disorder falls under Cluster C which is anxious and fearful. DSM is used to diagnose mental illnesses instead of doing physical tests on an individual. Personality disorders are determined by a group of symptoms or behavioral traits. (PD-DSM-IV to DSM-V) DPD is categorized in DSM-V to be submissive, anxiousness, and separation insecurity making it a PD Trait Specified (PD-TS).
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) identifies in DSM-IV that “the essential …show more content…

Individuals with this disorder have difficulty just picking out where to go for the day or even what friends to contact. Many of the symptoms have to be taken into consideration with age appropriateness. If a youth is clinging to its parents, that is found very normal but there comes a time in a child’s life when they must make decisions on their own and not always rely on its parents.
Dependent Personality Disorder has several symptoms, APA indicates the diagnostic criteria to be at least five of the following: 1) Has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others. (Dobbert 118) This symptom can be found in adulthood where the person relies on their parents for several decisions makings such as where to live and what job to pursue. Young children will also rely solely on their parents to make their decisions on what clothes to wear or what friends they can associate with. 2) needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life. (Dobbert 119) This makes the individual with DPD very passive in their decisions, they need their caregiver to reassure them that is in the right decision. 3) has difficulty …show more content…

The new model is called the hybrid methodology that has six personality disorder types.(PD-DSM-IV to DSM-V) The six types include: Borderline Personality Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Schizotypal Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. DPD is categorized as a PD-TS (Personality Disorder- Trait Specified). This means that the disorder has not fully developed into one of the 6 hybrid personality disorders. DSM-V changed personality disorder diagnosis in hopes for health professionals to get a clearer consensus of what the individual

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