A nurse is caring for a client who has dependent personality disorder. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect?

Personality disorders involve enduring patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate from cultural expectations and impair functioning. Dependent personality disorder is characterized by excessive need to be cared for, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors. Individuals often struggle with independent decision-making and fear separation or abandonment. These traits result in reliance on others for reassurance, guidance, and responsibility for life choices. Rationale: A. Impulsivity is more commonly associated with borderline personality disorder, where individuals demonstrate unstable emotions, risky behaviors, and difficulty with self-control. Dependent personality disorder does not typically involve impulsive decision-making but instead reflects cautious, overly reliant behavior driven by fear of independence. B. Submissive behavior is a hallmark feature of dependent personality disorder. Clients often allow others to assume responsibility for major life decisions and may have difficulty expressing disagreement due to fear of rejection or loss of support. This results in passive, compliant behavior and excessive reliance on caregivers or authority figures. C. Reclusive behavior is more characteristic of schizoid personality disorder, where individuals tend to avoid social relationships and prefer isolation. In contrast, clients with dependent personality disorder actively seek relationships and reassurance from others rather than withdrawing from social interaction. D. Perfectionism is commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, where individuals are preoccupied with order, control, and adherence to rules. Dependent personality disorder does not primarily involve rigid standards or perfectionistic tendencies but instead focuses on dependency and fear of independence.