Dependency and patienthood

Abstract

A review of laboratory and clinical studies of dependency reveals that a dependent personality orientation is associated with several traits that are likely to influence psychotherapy process and outcome (i.e., compliance with rules and authorities, sensitivity to interpersonal cues, and desire for help and support from others). Because empirical studies of dependency have produced highly consistent findings, strong conclusions may be drawn from the converging results of these investigations. After a review of the clinical and experimental literature on dependency, the implications of patient dependency for several areas of patient‐related behaviors (i.e., willingness to seek treatment, behavior during psychotherapy, and the dynamics of treatment termination) are discussed.

Dropout From Outpatient Mental Health Care in the United States

“…This is in accord with evidence that spouses of individual psychotherapy patients sometimes respond negatively to their partner’s treatment (29–31). Alternatively, patients without partners may tend to become more dependent on their psychotherapists and more likely to comply with treatment recommendations (32). …”

Development of the interpersonal dependency scale for older adults

“…Although the research of Bornstein and his colleagues was on dependency in younger adults, it supports Rosowsky's suggestion that a dependent personality style might affect the way people ‘engage and receive services’[6]. Bornstein found dependent personality characteristics to be associated with inability or unwillingness to relinquish the patient role following treatment [7]. Interpersonal dependency has also been reported to be associated with: over‐utilisation of health services [8], mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety [9] and a number of physical illnesses (such as ulcers, heart disease, epilepsy and asthma) [10].…”

“…Older adults are heavy users of home‐ and other health‐care services. Therefore, it is important to understand whether Bornstein and colleagues’[7–10] findings can be generalised to include populations of older adults. Research in this area is needed because it does not follow from Bornstein's lifespan model of interpersonal dependency and research with younger populations that behavioural manifestations and/or associations with mental and physical illness are the same for all age groups.…”