Personality Disorders Revisited: A Newly Proposed Mental Illness

Personality disorders such as dependent personality disorder (DPD), among others, have shown limited academic development in terms of a more in-depth understanding or subtypes that may exist as a mental illness or associated condition. DPD was first published as a distinct personality disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 3rd edition (DSM III) psychiatry manual in 1980. Since its revision in the DSM IIIR in 1987, no significant advancements have been proposed to date. This case study reported a patient with suicidal ideation and offered a new type of DPD to advance personality disorders research. The new subtype of dependent personality disorder has a few key characteristics of the traditional disorder yet reveals features that mirror nearly opposite symptom criteria, making it unique as a distinct subtype or possibly a separate personality disorder of its kind. The case study patient report proposes comorbid diagnoses of adjustment disorder and dependent personality disorder, the altruistic depressive type. Recommendations for further research were made.