Dependent Personality Disorder in Adolescents / Teens

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established diagnostic estimate
Is it more common among adolescents / teens? Dependent behaviour needs developmental interpretation
Are adolescents / teens at higher risk? Developmentally relevant; not established elevated prevalence
How much higher is the risk? NE
How often can it be missed? High
Does it show up differently among adolescents / teens? Yes developmentally
How might it look different? Difficulty making independent decisions, excessive reassurance, fear of losing relationships—but autonomy is still developing
What commonly occurs alongside it? Anxiety; depression
What can it be confused with? Normal adolescent dependency; separation anxiety; AvPD; BPD
Common screening tool DPQ — Dependent Personality Questionnaire*
Separate screening tool for adolescents / teens None established
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