Description of Disorders

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Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)

Dependent personality disorder is a chronic condition involving over-reliance on others to meet emotional and physical needs. Dependent Personality Disorder is manifested via passively allowing others to assume responsibility for major areas of ones life due to lack of self-confidence or lack of ability to function independently.

Causes of Dependent Personality Disorder

The cause of this disorder is not known. The disorder usually appears in early adulthood. This disorder is common but not well studied; however, more women than men have been found to have dependent personality disorder.

Symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder

People with this disorder do not trust their own ability to make decisions. They may be devastated by separation and loss and may go to great lengths, even suffering abuse, to stay in a relationship.

- Has difficulty making everyday decisions without an excessive amount of advice and reassurance from others
- Needs others to assume responsibility for most major areas of his or her life
- Has difficulty expressing disagreement with others because of fear of loss of support or approval.
- Has difficulty initiating projects or doing things on his or her own (because of a lack of self-confidence in judgment or abilities rather than a lack of motivation or energy)
- Goes to excessive lengths to obtain nurturance and support from others to the point of volunteering to do things that are unpleasant
- Feels uncomfortable or helpless when alone because of exaggerated fears of being unable to care for himself or herself
- Urgently seeks another relationship as a source of care and support when a close relationship ends
- Is unrealistically preoccupied with fears of being left to take care of himself or herself

Source: http://www.depression-guide.com/dependent-personality-disorder.htm

Summary: A person with this disorder is usually in an abusive relationship and stays with the abuser because he or she needs someone to control his or her life. The victim needs someone to be around and depend on constantly. These people like others to make their decisions because they do not feel they can do it and would rather have someone else responsible for their lives. These people are submissive to others and just cannot make decisions. Small and big decisions are difficult for these people. Men or women can be affected by this disorder and they do not want to be left alone. They will put up with almost any behavior just to avoid being alone. Counseling can help this person make better decisions, rely on themselves, and raise self-esteem. The goal is always for a person to reach their level of success and independence with new coping skills.

Delusional Disorder - Erotomanic Type

Delusional Disorder Types

Based on the predominant delusional theme, there are six subtypes of delusional disorder.

Erotomanic Type (also known as erotomania, psychose passionelle, Clerambault syndrome, or old maid's insanity):

Individuals affected by this subtype believe that another person is secretly in love with them. The person believed to be in love with the patient can be either someone with a higher status or unattainable (such as a famous person, a superior from work, or someone married), or a complete stranger. The delusion of love is usually intense in nature and "...often concerns idealized romantic love and spiritual union rather than sexual attraction." (1)

Although in some cases the delusion is kept secret, in most cases the patient attempts to contact the object of their delusion either through telephone calls, letters, gifts, visits or even stalking them. In some cases, individuals affected by this form of delusional disorder (especially males) have problems with the law because they abusively attempt to pursue the object of their delusion in a "misguided" effort to "rescue" that person from an imaginary danger. "Signs of denial of love are falsely interpreted as an affirmation of love."(2)

Although in clinical samples more women than men are diagnosed with this subtype of delusional disorder, in the forensic samples more men than women are diagnosed with the erotomanic type.

Source: http://www.omnimedicalsearch.com/conditions-diseases/delusional-disorder-types.html

Summary: This person would be the character Lisa in the movie Obsessed with Beyonce from 2009. The character and people with this disorder have this condition as a primary disorder and no drugs are involved. The person also does not have auditory or visual hallucinations and all other disorders have been eliminated. This person thinks that they are having a relationship with a person they are not having a relationship with. This person imagines and misinterprets the smallest gestures as love and a relationship. For example, the client makes eye contact with a victim and thinks the victim is in love with him. This person usually has an attraction to someone out of their available dating circle. The victim may be famous or important in their community. Many movies have been ...