Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of distorted thoughts and behaviors. Persons with this disorder often have trouble relaxing because they are preoccupied with details, rules, and productivity. They are often perceived by others as stubborn, stingy, self-righteous, and uncooperative. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is a condition characterized by a chronic preoccupation with rules, orderliness, and control. This personality disorder is thought to affect approximately one-percent of adults in the United States. Individuals with this disorder are thought to be at a higher risk of anxiety disorders and stress-related medical illnesses. People with OCPD may hoard money for future use, keep their home perfectly organized, or be anxious about delegating tasks for fear that they won't be completed correctly. There are four primary areas that cause anxiety for OCPD personalities: time, relationship, uncleanliness, and money. There are few moral gray areas for a person with fully-developed OCPD; actions and beliefs are either completely right, or absolutely wrong. This disorder tends to occur in families and thus may have a genetic component. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder most often occurs in men. It should not be confused with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is another psychiatric condition that shares some symptoms with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder, like many other mental illnesses, is linked to genetics and is caused by an imbalance in the person's brain chemistry. This perfectionism may interfere with the person's ability to complete a given task, because their rigid standards cannot be upheld. People with this disorder may emotionally withdraw when they are not able to control a situation. People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder believe that their preoccupations are appropriate. They tend to be high achievers and feel a sense of urgency about their actions. They may become extremely upset if others disturb their rigidly ordered routines. OCPD was modified to include affective constriction and difficulty expressing warm and tender emotions, reminiscent of autistic disorders. Cold and uncaring traits superceded overinhibited, overconscientious features. Other criteria included perfectionism that interfered with completing larger goals, insistence that others submit to his or her way of doing things, lack of awareness of the feelings elicited by this behavior in others, excessive devotion to work to the exclusion of pleasure and interpersonal relationships, and indecisiveness associated with fear of making a mistake. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (for example, Prozac) may help reduce obsessions and compulsions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy may also help.

Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Common Causes and Risk factors of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Imbalance brain chemistry.
• Faulty parenting.
• Cultural influences.
• Genetic connection.

Signs and Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Sign and Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Perfectionism
• Excessive devotion to work
• Overly conscientious
• Reluctant to work in teams or delegate
• Stubbornness
• Orderly personal life
• Inflexibility
• Finds it difficult expressing emotion
• Lack of generosity

Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

Common Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy may also help.
• Psychotherapy- Talking with a trained counselor or psychotherapist who understands the condition.
• Pharmacotherapy - will require an appointment with a psychiatrist who can prescribe medications which can make self-management and participation in other therapies possible and productive.
• Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (for example, Prozac) may help reduce obsessions and compulsions.
• Educating family and friends about the condition will help them to manage behavioral problems more sympathetically, and to watch out for the warning signs.
• Support groups may also be helpful in accepting and changing Obsessive-Compulsive behaviors.
• Consult your healthcare provider if you are having difficulty sleeping and/or you are experiencing problems that prevent you from taking regular exercise.
• Keeping a diary may help the individual to identify those stressful situations that help to trigger compulsive reactions, enabling them to focus on more constructive activities.