pendent personality was estimated, based on a probability subsample from Part II of the
National Comorbidit y Survey Replication, to be 0.6%.
Development and Course
This diagnosis should be used with great caution,  if at all, in children and adolescents, for
whom dependent behavior may be developmentally appropriate.
Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues
The degree to which dependen t behaviors are considered to be appropriate varies sub-
stantially across different age and sociocultu ral groups. Age and cultural factors need to
be considered in evaluating the diagnostic threshold of each crit erion. Dependent behav-
ior should be considered characteristic of the disorder only when it is clearly in excess of
the individual’s cultural norms or reflects unrealistic concerns. An emphasis on passivity,
politeness, and deferential treatment is characteristic of some societies and may be mis-
interpreted as traits of dependent personality disorder. Similarly, societies may differen-
tially foster and discourage depend ent behavior in males and females. 
Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
In clinical settings, dependent personality d isorder has been diagnosed more frequently in
females, although some studies report simila r prevalence rates among males and females. 
Differential Diagnosis
Other mental disorders and medical conditions. Dependent personality disorder must
be distinguished from dependen cy arising as a consequence of  other mental disorders (e.g.,
depressive disorders, panic disorder, agoraphobia) and as a resu lt of other medical conditions.