A New Interpersonal Theory and the Treatment of Dependent Personality Disorder

Abstract

The method of treatment of dependent personality disorder that is described in this chapter is based on the system of a new interpersonal theory. Within it, personality disorders are categorized according to the individual's relating characteristics. The therapy, based upon the theory, involves minimizing what are called negative relating characteristics and maximizing what are called positive relating characteristics. The chapter is divided into 5 parts. In the first, the version of interpersonal theory being used is described; in the second, dependent personality disorder is defined within the context of the theory; in the third, the therapy of dependent personality disorder, based upon the definition, is explained; in the fourth, a method of measuring change in therapy, based upon the theory, is introduced and, by this method, the responsiveness of dependent patients to therapy is demonstrated and in the fifth, the general themes of the chapter are brought together. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)