Comorbidity with Axis I and II

    Axis I
    The following table shows comorbidity rates between Dependent Personality Disorder and some Axis I disorders.  Interestingly, it seems that interpersonal dependency (characterized by DPD), is pretty strongly correlated with substance dependency. 

Prevalence Data
Disorder
 Rate
 Source                                
Agoraphobia
 .15
 Mavissakalian and Hamann (1988)*
Alcoholism
 .36
 Loas, et. al (2002)
Anorexia
 .37
 Loas, et. al (2002)
Anxiety
 .24
 Bornstein and Johnson (1990)*
Bulimia
 .45
 Loas, et. al (2002)
Depression
 .41
 Bornstein and Johnson (1990)*
Drug Abuse
 .20
 Loas, et. al (2002)
*as cited in Bornstein (1993, pp. 103, 118).
    With the exception of the Loas et. al study which used over 1,300 subjects, these studies had  small sample sizes.  While much of this data is striking, it is by no means definitive.  More research is needed to untangle the causal relationship between DPD and Axis I psychopathology.  Larger sample sizes and longitudinal studies should be helpful in this area (Bornstein, 1993, p.118).


Axis II
    According to Hirschfeld, Shea, and Weise (1995) assert that much of the comorbidity between Dependent Personality Disorder and other Axis II disorders is due to conceptual overlap.  Much of this overlap is seen with Borderline, Avoidant, and Histrionic Personality Disorders (Livesley, p.242).    
     Millon and Davis (2000) also discuss conceptual overlap as a cause of Axis II comorbidity.  They note that both Dependent and Histrionic personalities share a need for approval and affection.  The difference lies in the manifestation of these needs; Histrionics meet their needs in themselves while Dependents find it in others (pp.  223-224)
   
    Avoidant and Dependent personalities both share a fear of criticism and low self-esteem.  However, while the Avoidant individual is scared of being embarrassed, the Dependent has an "excessive need for attachment."  Lastly, Borderline and Dependent personalities share a fear of abandonment.  In Borderline personalities, this fear manifests itself in anger and control, while in Dependents it comes as clinginess and submissiveness. (Hirschfeld, Shea, and Weise in Livesley, 1995, p.242). 
   
Prevalence Data
Dr.Hill's Site
 Schizoid
 Schizotypal
 Antisocial
 Borderline
 Histrionic
 Narcissistic
 Avoidant
 Obsessive/Comp.
 Paranoid
Dependent
 9.2%
 12.3%
 3.1%
 50.8%
 29.2%
 26.2%
 49.2%
 9.2%
 29.2

    *All data is from (Morey, 1998, pp. 573-577).