Treatment for Dependent Personality Disorder
People who suffer from this disorder want attention, valuation, and social contact. Because of this, they may be one of the easiest to meet regularly in therapy, but also the most difficult because of the extreme need of support and assurance.
While rapport and a close, therapeutic relationship must be established, the boundaries in therapy must also be constantly and clearly outlined.
Psychotherapy
Like all personality disorders, psychotherapy is chosen to treat dependent personality disorder.
The most effective psychotherapeutic approach is to concentrate on solving the client's life problems that he is experiencing at present. Long-term, which is ideal for most personality disorders, is not suitable for patients with dependent personality disorder, because it reinforces a dependent relationship upon the therapist.
Examining the client's bad cognitions and related emotions (of lack of self-confidence, autonomy versus dependency, etc.) can be an important component of therapy. Assertiveness training and other behavioral approaches have been shown to be most effective in helping treat individuals with this disorder. Group therapy can also be helpful, if the client does not use groups to develop new dependent relationships.
