What is the approximate prevalence of Dependent Personality Disorder?

• A. 10%
• B. 2.5%
• C. 1%
• D. 5%

Answer: (B)

Dependant personality disorder is relatively uncommon in the general population. In most epidemiological studies, the lifetime prevalence falls in a narrow range around two to three percent, so using 2.5% as the approximate figure fits well with what is commonly taught. This reflects that while not rare, it is less common than many other conditions, and figures can vary a bit depending on the diagnostic criteria used and whether the sample is community-based or clinical.

Choosing 10% or 5% would imply a much higher occurrence than is typically observed in population studies, and 1% is possible in some samples but is not the most representative single estimate across sources. Hence 2.5% is the best fit for the approximate prevalence.