Dependency in the personality disorders: Intensity, insight, expression, and defense

Abstract

Although dependency-related dynamics play a role in many forms of personality pathology, a review of the literature in this area reveals that individuals with different personality disorders differ with respect to the intensity of underlying dependency needs, their degree of insight regarding these needs, the ways in which dependency needs are expressed in important interpersonal relationships, and characteristic defenses used to modulate underlying dependency needs. Clinical, theoretical, and empirical implications of these findings are discussed, and suggestions for future research on the dependency-personality disorders relationship are offered.

Line bisection performance in patients with personality disorders

“…The need for attachment helps the human infant obtain and maintain nurturant and supportive relationships (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991;Bornstein, 1992Bornstein, , 1998 and induces the infant to make strong affectional bonds to others (Bowlby, 1977). Problems with attachment are implicated in the development of personality disorder (reviewed in Bartholomew, Kwong, & Hart, 2001).…”

Dokuz Tip Mizaç Modeli’nin kişilik bozukluklarıyla ilişkisi

“…Bornstein (40) states that some individuals feel the need to take advice often and be approved; they are so dependent that they cannot make their own decisions, if this situation is intense and prevalent existence of DPD can be seen. In addition, DPD is characterized by being close to others and feeling a need for relation (41,42). For individuals with DPD, the need to be in close relation can reach such a level as to cause interpersonal problems (43).…”

Interpersonal Dependency and Personality Pathology: Variations in Rorschach Oral Dependency Scores Across Axis II Diagnoses

“…First, variations in dependency levels have long been assumed to distinguish different forms of personality pathology (Bornstein, 1997;Millon, 1996), yet data documenting these hypothesized intercategory differences are lacking for most Axis II PD categories. Second, high levels of patient dependency have been shown to influence the course of inpatient and outpatient psychological treatment (Bornstein, 1993;Masling, 1986); elucidating the links between ROD scores and different Axis II diagnoses may, therefore, aid in treatment planning.…”

“…On the basis of recent analyses of the dependency-PD relation (Beck & Freeman, 1990;Bornstein, 1997;Millon, 1996;Widiger & Bornstein, in press), we hypothesized that D/APD-O and BPD-I participants should show the highest ROD scores. NPD-O, PSD-I, and CSC participants should show lower ROD scores and that the ROD scores in these groups would not differ from each other.…”

“…NPD-O, PSD-I, and CSC participants should show lower ROD scores and that the ROD scores in these groups would not differ from each other. We also hypothesized that BPD-O and APD-O participants would show the lowest ROD scores (Blais et al, 1999;Bornstein, 1997).…”