Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

What is Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder?

OCPD is often confused with OCD, however the two are quite different. Those struggling with OCPD are preoccupied with details, rules, conformity, ethics, and a pervasive need for mental and relational control. There is a tendency toward more rigid thinking, low openness to new experiences, risk-aversion, and difficulty relaxing. They may be highly perfectionistic, and may show very little emotional range.

Other symptoms include:

• Preoccupied with details, rules, lists, order, organization, or schedules to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost.
• Perfectionism that interferes with task completion (e.g., is unable to complete a project because of his or her own overly strict standards are not met).
• Excessive devotion to work and productivity to the exclusion of leisure activities and friendships
• Overconscientious, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values/Inability to throw away worn-out or worthless objects even when they have no sentimental value.
• Reluctant to delegate tasks or to work with others unless they submit to exactly their way of doing things.
• Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others; money is viewed as something to be hoarded for future catastrophes.
• Shows rigidity and stubbornness.

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is not the same as obsessive-compulsive disorder, a type of anxiety disorder.

How is Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder Treated?

Radically-open DBT is considered one of the most viable treatment options for those with OCPD.

Treatments

RO-DBT

Learn More About Other Personality Disorders