PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) involves an excessive concern with perfectionism, orderliness, and control over one’s environment that pervades a wide variety of contexts. People with OCPD have such high levels of perfection and unrealistic standards that they tend to spend a disproportionate amount of time on trivial details. In addition, they may also be unable to delegate tasks to others, or to relax or have fun, due to their intense desire to stay in control of people and situations. These inevitably interferes significantly with the functioning and well-being of people with this condition. Imagine, even hobbies and vacations are formal endeavours that need to be treated seriously.

Other possible presentations of the condition include the following:

Ψ a reluctance to discard broken or worthless objects (you never know when it might come in handy);
Ψ inflexibility in dealing with matters involving morality and ethics; or
Ψ a tight control over spending of money in order to save for a rainy day.

With the rigidity that characterises OCPD, it is no wonder that people with OCPD are typically perceived to be stubborn and “cold”, even if they may not necessarily be so.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder vs. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) may share similar names, but that’s were the similarity ends. The following are important distinctions between OCD and OCPD:

Ψ Levels of insight & distress: People with OCD tend to be distressed by their intrusive thoughts, and engage in repetitive compulsive behaviours to neutralise them. On the other hand, people with OCPD tend to report lower level of distress as they typically lack insight into their condition and see their rigidity as a way of life.
Ψ Pervasiveness of symptoms: Compared to its more famous namesake, the obsessions and compulsions involved in OCPD are more pervasive. In general, people with OCPD demonstrate excessive perfectionism and rigid control in multiple areas of their lives (if not all), whereas people with OCD may only experience obsessions and compulsive rituals in one, or a few, aspects of their lives.
Ψ Most people with OCD do not have OCPD.

What causes OCPD?

OCPD has been closely linked to genetic factors. Obsessive-compulsive personality traits show a modest genetic influence and are more likely found in people who have high levels of conscientiousness and perfectionistic traits. On the other hand, children who were taught to suppress their emotions and adopt certain behavioural routines so as to avoid punishment or disapproval by their parents are also at risk of developing obsessive-compulsive personality traits.

Addressing OCPD

Despite being one of the most prevalent personality disorders, OCPD remains understudied. While there has been no general scientifc consensus on the best therapy method available, psychotherapy has been shown to be effective, with Cognitive Therapy (CT), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), and Psychodynamic Therapy often used to manage the condition.