Anxious Personality Disorders: Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-Compulsive

Individuals with these disorders often appear anxious or fearful, and like the other personality disorders, the generalized patterns described below typically begin in early adulthood, and are present in various contexts.

Dependent Personality Disorder

A person with Dependent Personality Disorder shows an extreme need to be taken care of that leads to fears of separation, and passive and clinging behavior. This disorder is indicated by five (or more) of the following (from DSM IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994):

     1.difficulty making daily decisions without an excessive 
       amount of advice and reassurance from others

     2.needs others to assume responsibility for most major 
       areas of his or her life

     3.difficulty voicing disagreement with others because 
       of fear of loss of support or approval (excluding 
       realistic fears of punishment)

     4.difficulty starting projects or doing things on his or 
       her own (because of little self-confidence in judgment 
       or abilities, rather than a lack of motivation or energy)

     5.excessively attempts to obtain support from others such 
       that he or she volunteers to do unpleasant tasks

     6.feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of 
       exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself 
       or herself

     7.urgently seeks another relationship as a source of support 
       when a close relationship ends

     8.overly worried about being left to take care of himself 
       or herself



Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
Personality Disorders Main Page