The Link Between Borderline and Dependent Personality Disorders

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Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is frequently associated with other personality disorders. A common disorder that those with BPD may also experience is a dependent personality disorder (DPD).

What Is Dependent Personality Disorder?

Individuals with dependent personalities tend to be very clingy and have difficulties accomplishing tasks or making decisions without the help of others. They rely on others to meet their emotional and physical needs. They tend to feel inadequate and helpless and can have problems in their relationships because of their near-constant need for support. People with DPD have little trust in themselves or confidence. This can cause them to be completely reliant on a partner even in the case of domestic abuse.

Common symptoms include:

While a direct cause is unknown, dependent personality disorder often shows itself in childhood and affects men and women equally.

Dependent Personality Disorder vs. Borderline Personality Disorder

Unlike those with DPD, people with BPD experience rage,impulsivity, and aggression. They can be reckless and can engage in self-harm and see the world as black and white, with no middle ground.

The two disorders often overlap in feelings of loneliness, avoiding responsibility and difficulty maintaining relationships.

The Frequency of Co-Occurring DPD and BPD

While studies of the co-occurrence, also known as acomorbidity, of the personality disorders is somewhat limited, some researchers have examined the overlap between dependent and borderline personality. A 2014 study found a 20 percent comorbidity rate among subjects who had bothBPDand DPD.

Helping a Loved One with DPD and Co-Occurring BPD

Research has shown that both dependent and borderline personality disorders are treatable.Through a combination oftherapyand medication, the symptoms of each disorder can be managed, enabling the affected person to live a fuller life. In order to be most effective, therapy will need to address both disorders in order to achieve a sustainable recovery.

For example,dialectical behavior therapy(DBT),schema-focused therapy, andtransference-focused therapyall have treatment elements that focus on relationship problems. These may be appropriate treatment choices for someone with both BPD and DPD.

In some cases, residential or outpatient services may be necessary. These treatment centers will have intensive skills training to make coping with the disorders more manageable.

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bornstein RF, Becker-matero N, Winarick DJ, Reichman AL.Interpersonal dependency in borderline personality disorder: clinical context and empirical evidence.J Pers Disord. 2010;24(1):109-27. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.1.109Association AP.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub; 2013.Cleveland Clinic.Dependent Personality Disorder. Reviewed March 30, 2017.Scott LN, Wright AGC, Beeney JE, Lazarus SA, Pilkonis PA, Stepp SD.Borderline personality disorder symptoms and aggression: A within-person process model.J Abnorm Psychol. 2017;126(4):429-440. doi:10.1037/abn0000272Tomko RL, Trull TJ, Wood PK, Sher KJ.Characteristics of borderline personality disorder in a community sample: comorbidity, treatment utilization, and general functioning.J Pers Disord. 2014;28(5):734-50. doi:10.1521/pedi_2012_26_093Ripoll LH, Triebwasser J, Siever LJ,Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for personality disorders.International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.2011;14(9):1257-1288. doi:10.1017/S1461145711000071Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zFassbinder E, Assmann N, Schaich A, et al.PRO*BPD: effectiveness of outpatient treatment programs for borderline personality disorder: a comparison of Schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy: study protocol for a randomized trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):341. doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1905-6

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bornstein RF, Becker-matero N, Winarick DJ, Reichman AL.Interpersonal dependency in borderline personality disorder: clinical context and empirical evidence.J Pers Disord. 2010;24(1):109-27. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.1.109Association AP.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub; 2013.Cleveland Clinic.Dependent Personality Disorder. Reviewed March 30, 2017.Scott LN, Wright AGC, Beeney JE, Lazarus SA, Pilkonis PA, Stepp SD.Borderline personality disorder symptoms and aggression: A within-person process model.J Abnorm Psychol. 2017;126(4):429-440. doi:10.1037/abn0000272Tomko RL, Trull TJ, Wood PK, Sher KJ.Characteristics of borderline personality disorder in a community sample: comorbidity, treatment utilization, and general functioning.J Pers Disord. 2014;28(5):734-50. doi:10.1521/pedi_2012_26_093Ripoll LH, Triebwasser J, Siever LJ,Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for personality disorders.International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.2011;14(9):1257-1288. doi:10.1017/S1461145711000071Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zFassbinder E, Assmann N, Schaich A, et al.PRO*BPD: effectiveness of outpatient treatment programs for borderline personality disorder: a comparison of Schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy: study protocol for a randomized trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):341. doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1905-6

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bornstein RF, Becker-matero N, Winarick DJ, Reichman AL.Interpersonal dependency in borderline personality disorder: clinical context and empirical evidence.J Pers Disord. 2010;24(1):109-27. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.1.109Association AP.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub; 2013.Cleveland Clinic.Dependent Personality Disorder. Reviewed March 30, 2017.Scott LN, Wright AGC, Beeney JE, Lazarus SA, Pilkonis PA, Stepp SD.Borderline personality disorder symptoms and aggression: A within-person process model.J Abnorm Psychol. 2017;126(4):429-440. doi:10.1037/abn0000272Tomko RL, Trull TJ, Wood PK, Sher KJ.Characteristics of borderline personality disorder in a community sample: comorbidity, treatment utilization, and general functioning.J Pers Disord. 2014;28(5):734-50. doi:10.1521/pedi_2012_26_093Ripoll LH, Triebwasser J, Siever LJ,Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for personality disorders.International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.2011;14(9):1257-1288. doi:10.1017/S1461145711000071Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-zFassbinder E, Assmann N, Schaich A, et al.PRO*BPD: effectiveness of outpatient treatment programs for borderline personality disorder: a comparison of Schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy: study protocol for a randomized trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):341. doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1905-6

Bornstein RF, Becker-matero N, Winarick DJ, Reichman AL.Interpersonal dependency in borderline personality disorder: clinical context and empirical evidence.J Pers Disord. 2010;24(1):109-27. doi:10.1521/pedi.2010.24.1.109

Association AP.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub; 2013.

Cleveland Clinic.Dependent Personality Disorder. Reviewed March 30, 2017.

Scott LN, Wright AGC, Beeney JE, Lazarus SA, Pilkonis PA, Stepp SD.Borderline personality disorder symptoms and aggression: A within-person process model.J Abnorm Psychol. 2017;126(4):429-440. doi:10.1037/abn0000272

Tomko RL, Trull TJ, Wood PK, Sher KJ.Characteristics of borderline personality disorder in a community sample: comorbidity, treatment utilization, and general functioning.J Pers Disord. 2014;28(5):734-50. doi:10.1521/pedi_2012_26_093

Ripoll LH, Triebwasser J, Siever LJ,Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for personality disorders.International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.2011;14(9):1257-1288. doi:10.1017/S1461145711000071

Choi-kain LW, Finch EF, Masland SR, Jenkins JA, Unruh BT.What Works in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2017;4(1):21-30. doi:10.1007/s40473-017-0103-z

Fassbinder E, Assmann N, Schaich A, et al.PRO*BPD: effectiveness of outpatient treatment programs for borderline personality disorder: a comparison of Schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy: study protocol for a randomized trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):341. doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1905-6

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