Medical Term:
dependency
Pronunciation: dĕ-pen′dents-ē
Definition:
- The state of being dependent.
- In psychiatry, seen as an issue for a patient who has made a decision that others are responsible for that patient's personal well-being; such turning over of power and responsibility can often lead to frustration, anxiety, anger, and depression, when the so-designated others fail to care for the person in the manner desired.
See Also: dependent personality disorder
